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CNC Training Module: Section 1.1: Preparing Your Shop for CNC

Lesson 5: Air Pressure Requirements

This tutorial provides essential information on the air pressure and air purity requirements for auto tool change machines, focusing on how to maintain optimal performance and prolong the spindle’s lifespan. The instructor outlines the necessary specifications and best practices for setup, including:

  1. Understanding the importance of air pressure for auto tool change systems
  2. Ensuring a minimum of 110 PSI air pressure entering the machine
  3. Recommending a minimum of 10 CFM from dedicated compressors for optimal operation
  4. Highlighting the need for air to be chilled and filtered to remove moisture and particulates
  5. Specifying a dew point requirement of 37.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) for effective air drying
  6. Advising on filtration systems that filter out particles smaller than one micron

Main purpose: To educate users on the necessary air pressure and purity requirements for auto tool change machines to ensure efficient operation and longevity of components.

Key takeaways:

  • Minimum air pressure requirement of 110 PSI
  • Recommended 10 CFM for dedicated compressors
  • Importance of moisture removal and filtration in air supply
  • Specific dew point and filtration standards to follow

Video Summary

Remember This Checklist:

  1. Understand air pressure requirements
  2. Know air purity requirements
  3. Download the specifications document
  4. Ensure correct dew point for air
  5. Plan air line installation

Introduction to Air Requirements (0:00-0:38)

0:00-0:03 – Welcome to the training video.
0:03-0:11 – Focus on air pressure and purity for auto tool change machines.
0:11-0:21 – Note: Manual tool change does not require air pressure.
0:21-0:38 – Importance of air pressure for auto tool change systems.

Air Pressure Requirements (0:38-1:30)

0:38-0:49 – Download document outlining air pressure and quality requirements.
0:49-1:03 – Minimum air pressure requirement: 110 PSI into the machine.
1:03-1:17 – Dedicated compressor recommendation: minimum 10 CFM.
1:17-1:30 – This ensures the compressor stays ahead of the machine.

Air Purity Requirements (1:30-2:01)

1:30-1:44 – Air must be chilled to remove humidity and filtered for particles/oil.
1:44-1:58 – Use a dryer/chiller to meet these requirements.
1:58-2:01 – Discuss specifications to provide to manufacturers for proper equipment.

Specific Air Quality Specs (2:01-2:50)

2:01-2:12 – Required dew point: 37.4°F (3°C).
2:12-2:32 – Filtration system should not allow particles larger than one micron.
2:32-2:50 – Emphasize the importance of matching specs with compressor/dryer manufacturers.

Conclusion and Final Notes (2:50-3:06)

2:50-2:58 – Download the specifications document linked below the video.
2:58-3:02 – Diagram of machine air intake location provided in the document.
3:02-3:06 – Advice on planning air lines for installation in your shop.

Full Video Transcript

Introduction to Air Requirements (0:00-0:38)

0:00-0:37: “Hello. Hello. Welcome to another training video and today we’re gonna focus on the air pressure requirements and air purity requirements for auto tool change machines. Uh, so if you have manual tool change, you don’t even need to pay attention to this video at all. Uh, manual Tool change doesn’t require air pressure order to use your CNC machine. However, auto tool change does. And so if you have an auto tool change system, you’re gonna need to pay attention to certain air pressure and air purity requirements, um, so that we, um, prolong the life of specifically the spindle that you’re gonna be using for the auto tool change sequences.”

Air Pressure Requirements (0:38-1:30)

0:38-1:30: “Um, to do this, we simply created, again, another document that has all of the requirements stated, uh, for air pressure and air air quality. And so you can find the link to download that document right below the video. Feel free to do so. Now, the, the pressure requirements for all auto tool change systems that legacy uses is going to require a minimum of 110 PSI coming into the machine. Uh, it doesn’t matter if if there’s more coming in, uh, ’cause there’s regulators on the platforms, um, to bring it to the right levels that it needs to be, but you need to have a minimum of 110. Uh, if you have, if you’re planning to put a dedicated compressor to the machine versus a larger compressor that, um, goes to multiple platforms, um, that’s up to you. But for a dedicated compressor, a minimum, um, CFM requirement coming from that compressor pump, um,”

Air Purity Requirements (1:30-2:01)

1:27-2:01: “CFM requirement coming from that compressor pump, um, we recommend is 10 CFM. And that will allow the compressor to stay ahead of the machine while it’s in operation. Okay, now, the air purity requirements, um, there’s going to need to be two things that happen with the air, it needs to be chilled. In other words, all the humidity needs to be brought out of it so it doesn’t have any moisture and it needs to be filtered so that there’s no particles or oil, um, um, in, in the air itself as it’s being pushed through the spindle and other components in the machine.”

Specific Air Quality Specs (2:01-2:50)

1:58-2:50: “through the spindle and other components in the machine. Okay? So a lot of the times you’re gonna get a dryer slash chiller, you know, to do this type of op uh, procedure for you. And these specs here is what you can bring to the compressor and dryer manufacturers and they can match these specs to, again, this situation, to make sure you have the best quality of air coming into your machine. Uh, so for example, on the, on the dryer, you need to have a dew point at 37.4 degrees or three degrees Celsius. Um, and you need to have a filtration system that doesn’t let anything, you know, less than a one micron, that type of thing. So feel free to take these specs over to the compressor and dryer manufacturers and they can match that for you. If you have any questions, feel free to let us know and we can get those answered for you. Uh, just download this document right below the video and we’ll see you guys in the next video.”

Conclusion and Final Notes (2:50-3:06)

2:48-3:06: “and we’ll see you guys in the next video. One final note on the air pressure, specifically where it connects to the machine. And so in the document links down below it, You’re gonna find again the, uh, diagram for the machine that we used to lay out the footprint, uh, for your shop.”