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Damien our air motors Product Marketing Manager, will share his thoughts
Following on my previous article “Power is everything”, it is now time to make a decision: will you choose an air motor or an electric one? Read my article below to help you through your decision process.
Versatile, efficient, safe and capable of operating in the most hostile environments – all features you would demand from just about any industrial product. However, when it comes to a new motor they’re absolutely crucial.
It’s fair to say that the default choice for many would be an electric motor, probably because of its levels of precision and accurate speed control. That’s okay if there is no air source available but if there is then it makes a lot more sense to use an air motor.
Sure, being an expert in air motors for many years, I’m bound to say that, aren’t I? Well, I wouldn’t be a good global product marketing manager for Chicago Pneumatic if I said electric motors were better… but then I wouldn’t be giving you the full picture either.
Let’s take the above four features in order, versatility first. Very easy to install and use, air motors offer multiple operating speeds and torque spans while power adjustment is simplicity itself.
In terms of efficiency, they have a much higher power-to-weight ratio than an electric motor combined with considerably lower operation and maintenance costs. An especially handy feature is the motor output’s ability to adjust automatically to match the load.
Safety is essential, of course, so it’s great that there are no risks of fire (no sparks involved), pollution, fluid leakage or any water hammer problems.
Finally, heavy-duty air motors are not affected by hostile environments – including humid and explosive – and work well in temperatures of -30°C to 150°C. They can be used in any stop-and-start operation and can be stalled indefinitely without overheating. Should you be working around sensitive equipment such as MRI scanners, air motors are the perfect solution because they don’t generate electromagnetic fields.
Whatever sector you are in – including food production, chemical, medical, pharmaceutical or automotive – air motors are undoubtedly the best option.
However, to achieve the best results you’ll need help choosing the most productive model for the job in hand.
That’s why we’ve made the selection process so easy for you by automating what was previously a laborious manual operation. With our help, you’ll save many hours that can be used on more productive activities.
Take a look at our Expert Corner to learn how to check whether a pneumatic motor or an electric one best fits your needs.
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