subject: Faqs About Air Knives [print this page] What are air knives? What are air knives?
These are blowoff systems that are installed in processing plants, factories, and other industrial sites. By itself it doesn't require power, but it functions on a supply of compressed air produced by generators that are either run on electricity or fuel. An air knife design is composed of two blades placed near beside one another, so that a curtain of high-speed air stream is produced.
What are they used for?
The main purpose for air knives is to dry parts and surfaces during manufacturing cycles. Removal of dust and other invisible contaminants is also another common use for them, especially seen in assembly lines that involve producing parts casted out of metallic raw materials. In other industrial sites, the air knife is seen to move small parts or food items from one part of the conveyor to the next. Other times, it is used for regulating heat of machineries working without cease.
What are the benefits of air knives?
Because of air knife systems, production time is cut short significantly. Market demand is better managed as a result, leading a better returns for a company. Because of its reliability in cleaning and drying parts, quality is very much improved, and the number of products that do not pass quality control is also brought down, lessening wastage rate on raw materials. Heavy equipments and machines that indispensable to production are maintained properly, also because of air knife units in place.
Can an air knife be customized to suit my production needs?
Definitely. By far, air knives have been most flexible when it comes to design, and it can always be appropriated in terms of blade length, width, and angle. Even the blades themselves can be modified. For instance, some air knife kits today are molded curved or has tear-drop shape exits in the gap. Such designs are meant to level up the speed of the air streams at no extra cubic of compressed air and for a more exact targeting.
What comes with an air knife kit?
The accessories that comes with air knives are often installed in the air pipe systems. One is the pressure gauge or regulator with control valve that pauses the air knife unit when not needed, without the need for personnel intervention. Oil and liquid filter is also necessary to prevent unclean air from getting through the blowoff systems. Ducts are sometimes added for outsourcing air at a considerable distance from the factory.
