subject: Common Terms To Learn When Dealing With Air Compressors [print this page] If you are dealing with air compressors, there are many terms you will come across that may be essential to understand. Knowing the meaning of these terms will give you a better understanding of what you are dealing with when it comes to air compressors and any issues that may arise.
First, we will go over some of the basic components of air compressors. The air regulator is used to gauge how much air is being disbursed from the tank. The check valve makes sure all the air is flowing in one direction. The line pressure gauge measures how much air is in the hose that supplies the tool with air. This is important to avoid injury or damage to the tool. The tank is the largest part of the compressor. It holds the air until it is ready to be used by the tool. The tank pressure gauge determines how much air is available to use in the tank.
The next thing to learn are technical terms involved when dealing with air compressors. PSI or "pounds per square inch" is the measure of how much force is being delivered by the compressor to the tool. A typical painting tool will require 40-50 PSI, while some hand tools require around 100 PSI.
ASME stands for American Society of Mechanical Engineers. An ASME certified tank has certain welding standards that must be adhered to in order to be called an ASME certified tank. In order to be in code on certain jobs, an ASME certified tank is required for any work with air tools.
Cubic feet per minute, or CFM, is the amount of air being delivered from the compressor to the tool. Compressors with higher CFPM ratings provide more air.
A single stage compressor has one cylinder. It is usually used for smaller jobs, such as painting. A two stage compressor has two or more cylinders. These are commonly used for jobs that require higher PSI or will be in use for longer periods of time.
Tool ratings are the types of tools that are compatible with a compressor. The size of the compressor and the output determine what types of tools can be used with it. Depending on how much the tool will be used and for how long can determine the tool rating.
Knowing these common terms and more technical terms will help you understand air compressors better and hopefully put you on the right track to buying one.
