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How to install an air motor?

Installing your air motor

An air motor needs a certain amount of air and a certain pressure to function. Supply and exhaust hoses must therefore be properly dimensioned.

Air lines

Using air lines that are too long or under-dimensioned will result in pressure drops. As stated earlier in this guide, this means power losses. The exhaust line must have a larger dimension than the supply line. This is because the exhaust air occupies a larger volume than the supply air. For an inlet pressure of 6.3 bars (= 7.3 bars absolute) and an outlet pressure at atmospheric level (= 1 bar absolute) the volume increase is a factor of 7.3. In practice this means that if the same dimensions are used for inlet and outlet lines a back pressure is built up and the motor loses its efficiency 

Specification Values Chicago Pneumatic
Model name   M16 M25-M2501 M39-M3901 M84-M8401 M180
Inlet connection BSP 1/8" 1/8" 1/4" 1/4" 3/8"
Inlet hose* [mm] 8 8 10 10 13
Inlet nipple diameter [mm] 5 5 8 8 9.3
Outlet connection BSP
1/8" 1/8" 1/4" 1/4" 3/8"
Outlet hose* [mm] 8 8 10 10 19
Outlet nipple diameter [mm] 5 5 8 8 17

Connection

Non-reversible motor

Clockwise rotation

Clockwise rotation

When the compressed air supply is connected to the inlet, the direction of rotation will be as shown in Figure. If the exhaust air is to be piped away, a hose should be connected to the exhaust outlet (EXH).

Reversible motor

Clockwise rotation

1 - Clockwise rotation | 2 - Anti-cockwise rotation

The compressed air supply should be connected to the inlet that gives the desired direction of rotation, Figure hereunder. The inlet not in use functions as an additional outlet: it must not be plugged.

Air preparation

For optimum performance and maximum machine life we recommend the use of compressed air with a maximum dew point of +10°C. We also recommend the installation of a refrigeration-type air dryer. To ensure reliable service an air filter and lubricator (not mandatory if the motor is lubrication free) should be fitted into the inlet airline – within 5 meters from the motor. It is recommended that a pressure regulator is also incorporated into the air preparation package. This has the function of maintaining the desired working pressure and can be used to modify the output exactly to meet the needs of the application. 

The filter shall remove solid particles larger than 15 microns and remove more than 90 % of liquid water.

Remember: when selecting an air preparation package, ensure all components have a flow.

Lubrication

AM000tech4-4
To achieve optimum service life and performance an air motor should be supplied with 50 mm3 of oil for each cubic meter (1 000 liters) of air consumed. Insufficient lubrication will result in accelerated vane wear and a reduction in performance. The lubricator oil selected should have a viscosity of between 50 and 300 × 106 m2/s at the working temperature. The table below shows how reduced lubrication can affect service life and power for a lubricated vane motor.
Lubricant quantity Service life Output power
mm³ oil m³ hours %
50 1000 - 3000 100
10 500 - 100 100
1 200 - 500 90
0.1 100 - 300 80
0 10 - 30 30

Free vane motors Chicago Pneumatic air motors are available with lubrication free vanes as standard. If running a motor with 100% dry air and no lubrication, performance can be reduced by 5-15% at max. output depending on model. Free speed will be more affected, reduced by 10-30%. To optimize the service intervals for a lubrication free vane motor, use lubricated air if the application allows it.

Directional control valves

The symbols used to represent these valves on an installation diagram

The symbols used to represent these valves on an installation diagram

These valves are used to start or stop a motor, or to change its direction of rotation. It is most usual to use a 5/3 valve to control a reversible motor and a 3/2 valve to control a non-reversible motor. The valve designations refer to the number of connection ports and the number of operating positions the valve provides. For a 5/3 valve this is 5-connection ports and 3 positions. When selecting any control valve, it is important to ensure it has a flow capacity sufficient to meet the motor's requirements.

Typical installation diagrams for air motors, together with their associated control valves, filters, regulators, lubricators and silencers.

  1. Filter
  2. Pressure regulator
  3. Oil fog lubricator
  4. Silencer
  5. 5/3 valve
  6. Air motor
  7. 3/2 valve

The direction of rotation is controlled manually by a lever-opened 5/3 valve.

The air preparation unit ensures that the motor is supplied with clean air and lubrication. The built-in pressure regulator can also be used to modify the output of the motor.

Installation examples

Accessories

Mounting flange and mounting feet

Mounting flanges is a Mounting solution for air motor which allow assembly of the motor perpendicular to a surface

A Mounting Feet is a Mounting solution for air motor which allow assembly of the motor parallel to a surface

How to install a mouting flange

Remove the spacer ring and the front part

AM000tech4-72

Position the sealing ring - Use Molucote G68 grease

AM000tech4-73

Tighten the flange on the ring gear to 14.75 ftlbs. Use Loctite 243

Silencers

The noise generated by an air motor is mainly caused by the exhaust air exiting the motor. The noise level increases with speed and is greatest at free speed. 

All Chicago Pneumatic motors are supplied with a threaded exhaust port permitting a screw-in silencer to be fitted to reduce noise level. By fitting a hose between the exhaust port and the silencer the noise level can be reduced even further. The effect of employing the various silencing techniques is indicated in table 2. Note that a silencer may cause power losses if incorrectly sized.

0.36 kW motor
No-load speed
Anechoic room
Interval of 1 minute
Measure Noise level dB(A)
None 94
Silencer only 77
Hose only 84
Hose with silencer 75

On which markets are air motors used?