Savvy manufacturers never stop looking for ways to reduce costs and improve productivity… While the beforehand expense of electrical power tools is undoubtedly attractive, pneumatic tools offer a lower sum total of ownership and greater throughput in the lon run.
Industrial air grinders give you a very different value proposition than electric grinders. They are engineered for longevity, efficiency, and more importantly safety. Air powered grinders are becoming more popular due to benefits provided in relation to their cost. Adopting air powered grinders results in greater financial savings during the entire time of the tool.
In this article, we explore 5 clear cut benefits afforded by the use of industrial grade pneumatic grinders.
1. No recourse of Electric Shock
Grinders of all varieties are often used in environments where moisture, conductive materials, and flammable liquids are present. Damaged cords and wires pose a hazard to operator safety due to electrical shock. Furthermore, metal fabricators often depend upon flammable chemicals, like acetone, to scrub and prep metals before welding. Pools of spilled liquids can easily be ignited by faulty electrical cords. Additionally, vapor concentrations could be higher when in confined spaces like those perfectly located at the mining and tank cleaning industries. In contrast, air tools require no electricity, and their rotary vane air motors generate no spark. Pneumatic grinders therefore produce a safer work place which cuts down the likelihood of generating OSHA violations. The bottomline is, air tools are safer than electric tools because an aura hose will never emit a spark and can be found in wet conditions.
2. Superior Ergonomics and Power to Weight Ratio
Pneumatic grinders give you a better power to weight ratio than electric grinders. The bottomline is, pneumatic grinders produce more horsepower inside a lighter and smaller package. Misleadingly, electric tool manufacturers often classify the effectiveness of their tools through the wattage fed inside their electric motors (incidentally 750 watts equals roughly 1 horsepower). What’s not produced in electric tool specifications would be that the power fed into the motor is not the same wattage that involves the spindle with the tool. In reality, only 50% to 60% in the rated wattage actually concerns the abrasive or accessory. In comparison, with pneumatic grinders, power in equals power out. An aura motor rated for 1 horsepower will give that very same level of chance to the tool.
3. Increased Productivity
Let’s put ergonomics and ratios aside as it were. If increasing worker output can be a priority for the operation (and when is it not?), pneumatic grinders can help you meet your primary goal. When working with grinders of any type, Revolutions Each and every minute (RPM) play an important role within the material removal equation. Abrasive products (grinding wheels, fiber discs, flap wheels, etc.) are engineered to execute optimally at the specific RPM. Fortunately, modern pneumatic grinders include a speed control mechanism, (also called a governor), that ensures proper RPM by controlling the air-flow on the tool. Because operator places downward pressure about the abrasive, the governor “opens up”, increasing ventilation towards the motor and ensuring the correct spindle speed.
4. 100% Duty Cycle + High Performance in Harsh Environments
Mitch Burdick, something Manager for Saws at Bosch says: “The two biggest threats affecting electric tool life are dirt and as well as 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 has to be respected. Without a periodic rest, the heat generated with the motor itself will diminish performance and eventually cause premature tool failure. In reality, for each 4 minutes running, an electric powered grinder is designed to have one minute rest.
Furthermore, the generation of particles is built into any material removal process. With all the open grate style motor compartments necessary for cooling, electric tool motors will be more prone to the accumulation of dust and debris. In contrast, Industrial Grade Air Tools are made particularly for use within foundries, shipyards, offshore oil platforms, power plants, metal fabrication facilities, and petrochemical refining plants. Air tools have a 100% duty cycle, meaning they’re built to run 24 hours a day 7 days a week (when used in combination with a filter regulator lubricator). Air tool housings are made from aluminum or steel, not Abs plastic, fiberglass which makes them more up against the impact from repeated drops. Pneumatic grinders can also be used underwater if your exhaust is vented above the surface!
5. Simple Servicing and Sustainability
An advert grade grinder is not an disposable machine and immediately end up in the landfill just like a “disposable” commercial electric grinder. Pneumatic grinders might be updated and stay periodically rebuilt often times over. The common electric tool maintenance interval is between 60 and 120 hours and the tool will typically need, at the very least, a whole new set of brushes. Comparatively, a garage / maintenance grade air tool averages 200 hours between service intervals while a truly industrial grade air grinder can increases to 2000 hours between tune-ups. When the time comes to service your air tools, convenient and clearly labeled kits can be found that have the most frequent wear parts.
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