Choosing The Correct Pneumatic Tool

Selecting the correct pneumatic tool for a task enhances productivity greatly, improves quality control, and increases profits, reports Bellambie Mining and Industrial marketing manager Dudley Ward.

"To ensure optimum performance and extended operating life of pneumatic tools, proper selection, installation, use and regular maintenance is critical," adds Ward.

Correct lubrication is one of the most important elements in the economic operation and maintenance of air tools.

To avoid tool failure, devices should be lubricated daily through the air inlet of multivane air motors and air hammers, or through air-line filters and lubricators.

Optimum pneumatic-tool performance also depends on a supply of clean, dry air at the correct pressure; while the tool is running, lower air pressure is recommended for screwdrivers.

Although a moisture trap and line filter effectively eliminate moisture and grit particles from the air, a compressor of adequate capacity and full-size air-supply lines are necessary to obtain optimum performance from pneumatic tools.

Suitable hose and fittings are also important in order to avoid air and pressure loss, and to facilitate speedy coupling and changing of air tools.

Sapco, which forms part of Bellambie Mining and Industrials automotive division, has been the sole distributor of Uryu pneumatic tools in Southern Africa for the past 20 years.

The tools, including bolt and nut setters, screwdrivers, abrasive tools, drills and tappers, as well as percussion tools and accessories, are available nationally from its outlets, which also offer a technical advisory and back-up service.

This range is assembled in Japan with precision-machined components, surpassing world-class standards.

Bellambie has introduced a new Uryu torque-measuring system to the market, designed to measure precisely the dynamic torque of oil-pulse and stall-type tools.

These UMS transducers, which are ideal for use in quality-control areas and workshop test facilities, consist of non-contact, magnetostrictive rotating transducers and a torque auditor, which provides automatic data storage and analysis of up to 1 000 readings.

To create a positive magnetostrictive effect when the transducer is excited under a load, grooves in two regions of the anvil surface are provided at about 45.

Part of Bellambie Mining & Industrials automotive division, Sapco, has extended its range of pneumatic tools to include the new Alpha series, which is the fifth generation in Uryus range of oil-pulse mechanism assembly tools.

The Alpha series has a nine-blade double-chamber air motor which produces a 50% higher power-to-weight ratio than tools of the same physical size, which use a conventional single-chamber air motor, explains Bellambie marketing manager Dudley Ward.

The range offers free speeds of between 3 100 r/min and 5 500 r/min, with minimal power ripple.

The double-blade pulse mechanism enables tools to cope efficiently with various tightening tasks, and to easily manage soft and hard joint conditions.

Bolt seating is efficiently performed, and torque spike on hard-joint applications, caused by spinning of the anvil, is reduced to a minimum.

Benefits during operation include low noise, reduced vibration and virtually no torque reaction.

Average air consumption is between 0,25 m3/min and 0,7 m3/min, depending on the model used, and efficient motor power provides optimum cycle time for different joint conditions.

This pneumatic tool has an advanced ergonomic design a single hand-operation reverse lever enables easy forward/reverse movement, and an anti-vibration handle jacket provides perfect palm-fitting for the operator, enhancing comfort and safety.