Savvy manufacturers never stop looking for ways to reduce costs and improve productivity… Whilst the at the start price of electricity tools is certainly attractive, pneumatic tools give a lower total cost of ownership and greater throughput in the long run.
Industrial air grinders give you a very different value proposition than electric grinders. They are engineered for longevity, efficiency, and even more importantly safety. Air powered grinders are increasing in popularity because of the benefits provided regarding their cost. Adopting air powered grinders leads to greater personal savings throughout the duration of the tool.
In this post, we explore 5 clear cut benefits afforded through industrial grade pneumatic grinders.
1. No Risk of Electric Shock
Grinders of most varieties are likely to be found in environments where moisture, conductive materials, and flammable liquids are mixed together. Damaged cords and wires pose a hazard to operator safety as a result of electrical shock. Furthermore, metal fabricators often rely on flammable chemicals, such as acetone, to wash and prep metals prior to welding. Pools of spilled liquids can easily be ignited by faulty electrical cords. Additionally, vapor concentrations could be higher when working in confined spaces for example those located in the mining and tank cleaning industries. In contrast, air tools require no electricity, along with their rotary vane air motors generate no spark. Pneumatic grinders therefore create a safer work environment which cuts down on probability of generating OSHA violations. The bottomline is, air tools are safer than electric tools because a cloak hose will not emit a spark and is used in wet conditions.
2. Superior Ergonomics and Capability to Weight Ratio
Pneumatic grinders offer a better capacity to weight ratio than electric grinders. To put it simply, pneumatic grinders produce more horsepower within a smaller and lighter package. Misleadingly, electric tool manufacturers often classify the strength of their tools from the wattage fed into their electric motors (incidentally 750 watts equals roughly 1 horsepower). What’s not mentioned in electric tool specifications would be that the power fed in the motor is not the same wattage that concerns the spindle of the tool. The truth is, only 50% to 60% in the rated wattage actually arrives to the abrasive or accessory. As opposed, with pneumatic grinders, power in equals power out. A cloak motor rated for 1 horsepower will offer that same quantity of capacity 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 (and when isn’t it?), pneumatic grinders will help you meet your primary goal. When you use grinders of any type, Revolutions Each minute (RPM) play a crucial role from the material removal equation. Abrasive products (grinding wheels, fiber discs, flap wheels, etc.) are engineered to do optimally at the specific RPM. Fortunately, modern pneumatic grinders have a speed control mechanism, (also called a governor), that ensures proper RPM by controlling the ventilation on the tool. Because the operator places downward pressure on the abrasive, the governor “opens up”, increasing air-flow to the motor and ensuring the right spindle speed.
4. 100% Duty Cycle + High Performance in Harsh Environments
Mitch Burdick, a Product Manager for Tools at Bosch says: “The two biggest threats affecting electric tool life are dirt and and warmth – dropping them in water, or baking them within hot sun doesn’t help either.” By their very nature electric motors have a very rated duty cycle which have to be respected. Without having a periodic rest, heat generated by the motor itself will diminish performance and ultimately cause premature tool failure. In reality, for each and every 4 minutes running, a power grinder is made to get one minute of sleep.
Furthermore, the generation of particles is inherent in any material removal process. With the open grate style motor compartments necessary for cooling, electric tool motors will be more vunerable to the accumulation of the dust and dirt. As opposed, Industrial Grade Air Tools are created particularly for used in foundries, shipyards, offshore oil platforms, power plants, metal fabrication facilities, and petrochemical refining plants. Air tools possess a 100% duty cycle, meaning they’re designed to run Twenty-four hours a day 7 days a week (when used with a filter regulator lubricator). Air tool housings are constructed of aluminum or steel, not ABS plastic making them more resistant to the impact from repeated drops. Pneumatic grinders can even be used underwater when the exhaust is vented across the surface!
5. Ease of Servicing and Sustainability
An advert grade grinder is not an disposable machine and does not immediately result in the landfill as being a “disposable” commercial electric grinder. Pneumatic grinders can be tuned up and stay periodically rebuilt often times over. The normal electric tool maintenance interval is between 60 and 120 hours and the tool will typically need, to start, a fresh group of brushes. Comparatively, a garage / maintenance grade air tool averages 200 hours between service intervals while a totally 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 found that have the commonest wear parts.
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