The new Varodry dry-compressing screw vacuum pump, made by Leybold, Cologne, Germany, is 100% oil-free. Screw pumps are considered state-of-the-art industrial vacuum pumps, according to company officials, and the Varodry series is well suited for a wide range of manufacturing processes. That’s because in industrial settings, pumps not only need to handle clean air, but […]
Atlas Copco offers new screw vacuum pumps
As the properties and capabilities of glass evolve, the material is seeing use in increasingly diverse applications. This, in turn, is placing greater demands on glass production systems. This includes vacuum technology, which forms a central component in the production and processing of glass products. For example, the evacuation of glass molds, the coating of architectural glass […]
Firestone demonstrates intelligent air spring sensor
Firestone Industrial Products, a leading manufacturer of advanced air springs with headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, has developed a system that helps eliminate vibration in transportation applications. In collaboration with Knorr-Bremse, it introduced what is reportedly the first-ever fully integrated intelligent air spring sensor at the 67th Bi-Annual IAA Commercial Vehicles Conference in Hannover, Germany. According […]
Research competition advances soft-robotics designs
The Soft Robotics Toolkit group has announced the winners of the 2018 Soft Robotic Design Competition and the coveted Prize for Research. The annual competition draws hundreds of participants, including researchers, university and high school students, and hobbyists. Participants document the design, fabrication and testing of their submitted soft robotic technology and publish the results […]
What is Class 0 air?
The international standard ISO 8573-1 (2010), “Compressed air — Contaminants and purity classes,” provides a classification system for the main contaminants in compressed air systems. The standard specifies a number of purity classes for compressed air with respect to particulates, water and oil, independent of the location in the compressed air system at which the […]
Compressors meet shipboard air demands
Many engineers are familiar with plant compressed-air networks that pipe high-pressure air to pneumatic tools, industrial robots and countless types of production and packaging equipment. Perhaps not as widely known, but equally as important, compressed air also handles critical tasks on large commercial ships. Compressed air is used onboard in a number of ways. One […]
Time-honored process embraces food-safe pneumatics
Food-safe pneumatics automates traditional cheese production. Contributed by Bill Oliver, Sector Head Food & Beverage/Industrial Automation and John Bridges, Head of Marketing, AVENTICS Corp. Most everyone who enjoys a good bowl of pasta is familiar with Parmigiano-Reggiano and Grana Padano, the well-known Italian cheese varieties famous around the world. These types of parmesan cheese have […]
Going soft on grippers
There’s a growing interest in nontraditional pneumatic end effectors that offer flexibility and a deft touch. Pneumatic grippers have been used for decades to pick up, carry and place everything from tiny electronic components to sizeable objects like engine blocks and lumber. Most have rigid fingers or jaws, usually made of steel or aluminum. Such devices work […]
How automated air control valves can replace VFDs
Air knife systems controlled by automated valves offer significant benefits over complex and costly VFD motor controls. By Dan VanderPyl, President, Sonic Air Systems Variable frequency drives for electric motors have become a welcome addition to a wide variety of machinery for a long list of 21st century applications, but they are no longer the […]
Trampoline generates compressed air for dental use
A group of engineering students at Seoul National University has developed a trampoline designed to produce compressed air and power high-speed dental tools. According to university officials, the set-up would help dentists in developing countries, where reliable power sources may be lacking. A team led by Kim Jae-in, a student in the Mechanical Aviation Engineering […]
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