Basic Maintenance Of Pneumatic Components

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9478
Comment this article

Although pneumatic components used to be found exclusively in industrial settings, today they also can be found in many homes in the form of pneumatic tools and appliances. And while the pneumatic components used in homes tend to be very different from those used in factories and assembly lines, the basic principles behind the maintenance of these components remains essentially the same. Whether it is a pair of industrial strength pneumatic grippers that requires maintenance or a pneumatic drill designed for use in the home, maintenance is an essential part of ensuring your equipment remains safe to use and lasts through its expected working life.

Filter

The compressed air required for any sort of pneumatic-based machinery to work is provided by an air compressor, which pressurizes the air and sends it to the equipment by means of tubing. Before passing the compressed air into the tubing, however, it also needs to ensure that the air is clean and dry enough for use in the equipment. Air that contains impurities or moisture can lead to corrosion and malfunctions, so to prevent this a filter is installed in the air ...
... compressor to remove impurities from the air. Although the filters used in pneumatic systems are slightly different from the more common air filters found in other types of equipment, they still require cleaning as more and more dirt, dust and other impurities are filtered out of the air and trapped in the filter.

Lubricators

Depending on the type of valves and cylinders that are present in your pneumatic equipment, your air compressor might require a lubricator. The lubricator essentially injects atomized lubricant into the air supply. The atomized lubricant travels with the compressed air and coats the valves and cylinders that it comes into contact with, thus ensuring that they remain lubricated and reduces wear and tear in the system. Some modern valves and cylinders are manufactured with coatings that reduce wear and tear, thus eliminating the need for lubricators in the air compressors. If the valves and cylinders in your system do not have this coating, however, then you will need to check the lubricator regularly to ensure that the supply of lubricant has not run out.

Valves & Cylinders

Even with lubricators or coatings, valves and cylinders still tend to become coated with dust or dirt that has somehow managed to make its way into the system. This is normal and to be expected, and even the best-designed pneumatic systems require that the valves and cylinders be maintained occasionally. You can do this by taking the valves and cylinders apart and cleaning them thoroughly. This will remove foreign particles and will greatly reduce any wear and tear that occurs through the operation of the equipment.

Regular Maintenance

No matter what type of pneumatic components you are dealing with, regular maintenance is absolutely essential. Even if you are certain that the particular components you are using are functioning properly, you should still conduct an inspection to ensure that they are. This will not only help to prevent wear and tear on your system, it will also help you spot any imperfections that might appear that could lead to accidents. From industrial-grade pneumatic grippers to pneumatic nail guns to pneumatic saws, maintenance is something that should never be neglected.

If you are looking forPneumatic grippers or any other Pneumatic components that will only require occasional maintenance and not constant attention, then you should look for what you need at DAS Services Inc.