In a previous article, Air Guy shared expert tips on optimizing the performance of your air tools. Now, he's back to guide you through the most common types of pneumatic tools and how to choose the right one for the job. With his insights, you'll be able to work smarter, faster, and more efficiently.
But first, let us peek at what is inside your pneumatic tool:Inside a pneumatic tool
Three building blocks form a pneumatic tool:
First is the air motor. There are two types of air motors:
- A vane motor has a rotor with vanes that are driven by compressed air. This motor is very robust and durable
- A turbine motor gives a great power-to-weight ratio and is a more energy-efficient solution.
Second is the gear. This converts the speed and torque of the motor to the interface. The gear also allows multiple interfaces. Some applications are, (1) on a torque wrench where the gear is used as a torque multiplier, and (2) on a grinder where the gearbox adjusts the speed of the motor to the desired speed of the abrasives.
Third is the interface between the tool and the application. The design of the interface depends on the purpose of the tool, e.g. to tighten large bolts, drill holes, tighten small screws, or remove material with a grinding disc.
When choosing an air tool, all these parts must work in harmony to get the best out of your application.
Pneumatic assembly tools
Threaded fasteners are commonly used to join parts together. These are used in many applications like in the electronics, automotive, construction, and aerospace industries. Joining parts together needs accuracy to avoid parts falling apart or getting damaged.
When choosing an air tool to secure threaded fasteners, it is good to understand the tightening technique, know how much torque you need for your application, and determine the balance between accuracy and speed for the specific application.
For example, the impact wrench and pulse tools are fast and reaction-free but may not be as accurate as the continuous drive nutrunners. The nutrunners are quite the opposite as they have a high accuracy level but are not as fast and create a reaction on the arm upon application.
To give you a more practical example, an impact wrench is a perfect tool if you want to loosen or pre-tighten joints. These tools are reaction-free which reduces the strain on the operator. A pulse tool gives you more accuracy and shuts off once it has done fastening. Whereas direct-driven nutrunners should be used when accuracy is the most important for the application.
Air Guy will show you how different these tools are when applied to a joint in the video below.
A grinder to fit your needs
When evaluating different grinders, it's important to consider both power and ergonomics. The primary factor is the power output, which determines how much material you can remove within a given timeframe.
For pneumatic grinders, power is measured at the spindle and is typically expressed in horsepower or kilowatts. Generally, higher power translates to an increased material removal rate and time savings.
Check out how Air Guy shows the performance of different grinders in the video.
When choosing a grinder, it is also important to understand the workload to be accomplished and the operator’s capacity. Consider these three ergonomic factors:
- Weight – a more powerful tool tends to be heavier; Consider the weight of the tool and the specific application it will be used for.
- Vibrations – A more powerful tool can minimize exposure to vibrations, and an auto-balancer can help them even further.
- Sound – Turbine technology can lower the tool's noise level.
Overall, the main factor to consider in selecting a grinder is the tool with the highest power-to-weight ratio that fits into your application ensuring high productivity and less strain on the operator.
Choosing your drill
Choosing a drill for your specific needs and application may be tricky, especially with the overwhelming number of drills available on the market.
Air Guy suggests these factors when choosing your drill:
- Speed: The required speed for your drill and the drill bit depends on the material and the size of the hole.
- Power: Larger holes will need more power to maintain the correct speed of the drill bit.
- Accessibility: Choose the type of drill head based on the specific application and operation you need to perform.
- Runout: Drills must rotate on their own axis in a straight line. This is especially important in industrial applications to ensure the highest quality of drilled holes, like the aerospace industry. However, runout causes deviations in hole shapes and sizes and should be avoided as much as possible.
Want to dive deeper into the key features of drills? Check our Drilling Solutions Pocket Guide for expert insights.
Percussive tools
Percussive tools are mainly used with a chisel to remove or break unwanted material. But there are still several types to choose from. Air Guy suggests considering the following factors:
- Frequency – how often you hit on the material
- Energy – how hard you hit on the material. Too much energy can destroy your workpiece, and less energy cannot remove unwanted material
When choosing a percussive tool, it is better, to begin with a small tool to ensure that you won’t damage your workpiece, then upgrade to a bigger tool to boost productivity as long as the workpiece is not damaged.
Choosing a vibration-dampened tool is always a smart move to minimize vibrations and reduce operator fatigue.
Check out Air Guy’s video below for real-world examples of how different percussive tools are used in action.
In conclusion, selecting the right pneumatic tools for your specific needs can greatly enhance your productivity and efficiency. Whether you're working with drills, grinders, or percussive tools, understanding the key factors such as speed, power, accessibility, and ergonomics is essential.
Air Guy shares comprehensive insights and practical examples to guide you through the process of choosing the best tools for various applications. By considering these factors and leveraging the tips shared, you can ensure optimal performance and user satisfaction.
Contact us to learn more about how to optimize your operations with Atlas Copco’s tools and solutions.