Savvy manufacturers never stop looking for ways to reduce costs and improve productivity… As the up front tariff of electric power tools is certainly attractive, pneumatic tools provide a lower total price of ownership and greater throughput in the long run.
Industrial air grinders offer a very different value proposition than electric grinders. They’re engineered for longevity, efficiency, and even more importantly safety. Air powered grinders are gaining in popularity due to the benefits provided in terms of their cost. Adopting air powered grinders results in greater cost benefits through the life of the tool.
In this article, we explore 5 obvious benefits afforded through industrial grade pneumatic grinders.
1. Non recourse of electrical Shock
Grinders of most varieties are generally used in environments where moisture, conductive materials, and flammable liquids can be found. Damaged cords and wires pose a threat to operator safety due to electrical shock. Furthermore, metal fabricators often depend on flammable chemicals, including acetone, to clean and prep metals prior to welding. Pools of spilled liquids can easily be ignited by faulty electrical cords. Additionally, vapor concentrations can be higher when in confined spaces for example those perfectly located at the mining and tank cleaning industries. In contrast, air tools require no electricity, in addition to their rotary vane air motors generate no spark. Pneumatic grinders therefore build a safer work place which decreases the probability of generating OSHA violations. Simply put, air tools are safer than electric tools because an air hose will never emit a spark and can be used in wet conditions.
2. Superior Ergonomics and Capability to Weight Ratio
Pneumatic grinders offer a better capacity to weight ratio than electric grinders. The bottomline is, pneumatic grinders produce more horsepower in a smaller and lighter package. Misleadingly, electric tool manufacturers often classify the potency of their tools with the wattage fed into their electric motors (incidentally 750 watts equals roughly 1 horsepower). What’s not stated in electric tool specifications would be that the power fed into the motor isn’t same wattage that arrives to the spindle of the tool. In fact, only 50% to 60% from the rated wattage actually comes to fruition at the abrasive or accessory. In contrast, with pneumatic grinders, power in equals power out. An aura motor rated for 1 horsepower will give that same level of capability to the tool.
3. Increased Productivity
Let’s put ergonomics and ratios aside if you’ll. If increasing worker output is really a priority to your operation (when don’t you think?), pneumatic grinders can assist you meet your objectives. When making use of grinders regardless of the sort, Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) play an important role in the material removal equation. Abrasive products (grinding wheels, fiber discs, flap wheels, etc.) are engineered to execute optimally with a specific RPM. Fortunately, modern pneumatic grinders are equipped with a speed control mechanism, (also called a governor), that ensures proper RPM by regulating the ventilation towards the tool. Because the operator places downward pressure around the abrasive, the governor “opens up”, increasing venting on the motor and ensuring the right spindle speed.
4. 100% Duty Cycle + High end in Harsh Environments
Mitch Burdick, something Manager for Tools at Bosch says: “The two biggest threats affecting electric tool life are dirt and and heat – dropping them in water, or baking them with a hot sun doesn’t help either.” By their very nature electric motors have a very rated duty cycle which have to be respected. With no periodic rest, the heat generated by the motor itself will diminish performance and ultimately cause premature tool failure. In fact, for every 4 minutes running, an electrical grinder was designed to have one minute respite.
Furthermore, the generation of particles is inherent in any material removal process. Using the open grate style motor compartments necessary for cooling, electric tool motors are more vulnerable to the accumulation of the dust and dirt. In contrast, Industrial Grade Air Tools are created particularly for utilization in foundries, shipyards, offshore oil platforms, power plants, metal fabrication facilities, and petrochemical refining plants. Air tools have a 100% duty cycle, meaning they may be designed to run Round the clock Seven days a week (when in combination with a filter regulator lubricator). Air tool housings are made from aluminum or steel, not Abs plastic, fiberglass driving them to more resistant to the impact from repeated drops. Pneumatic grinders could be used underwater if the exhaust is vented across the surface!
5. Simple Servicing and Sustainability
A commercial grade grinder is very little disposable device and immediately find themselves in the landfill like a “disposable” commercial electric grinder. Pneumatic grinders might be updated and turn into periodically rebuilt often times over. The typical electric tool maintenance interval is between 60 and 120 hours after which it the tool will typically need, at least, a fresh group of brushes. Comparatively, a garage / maintenance grade air tool averages 200 hours between service intervals while a very industrial grade air grinder can increases to 2000 hours between tune-ups. When it’s time to service your air tools, convenient and clearly labeled kits can be purchased that contain the commonest wear parts.
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