What type of compressor is needed for your impact wrench. What type of compressor is needed for your impact wrench

Repairing an air screwdriver

Pneumatic wrench. an indispensable tool for work with threaded connections. Widely used in car repair shops and on numerous construction sites. Tightens nuts perfectly and loosens very tight connections.

The design of an air screwdriver is quite simple, but it consists of many parts that are at first sight incomprehensible. Often machine parts are strong enough to last a long time and only break down because of wear and tear or excessive loads. Most of such problems can be detected at home without the need to call in specialists. On how to determine the location of the breakage and fix the fault, we will tell in this article.

How to choose a wrench ?

In this article we will try to tell in detail about what points you need to pay attention to when choosing a pneumatic nutrunner. After all, when you need to perform a specific locksmith and assembly operation, you need to be sure that the pneumatic tool will not let you down.

Before answering the question of which air wrench to choose, you should become acquainted with their main types. This material is discussed in a separate article here.

How to choose the right air compressor for private works

There are no universal criteria for everyone. everything is determined by the requirements and capabilities of the buyer. We offer a basic set of characteristics.

Performance

The most important parameter. Indicates how many liters of compressed gas a device produces per unit of time, measured in liters/minute. You need to determine the total air consumption considering all the air tools connected to the machine.

Volume of the receiver

That is, the volume of the tank for accumulation of compressed gas. Helps balance compressor operation. reduce pressure surges when turning on and off.

It is wrong to think that productivity depends on the tank volume.

Worth considering the error and losses during operation, so the maximum pressure of the unit should be slightly higher than the pressure to connect tools.

Air compressor

Familiarized with the general parameters and nuances, let’s consider the optimal characteristics directly for air compressors.

• Size. Choose a compact device, as space in the garage is always scarce.
• Capacity. Optimal. 15-25%.
• Receiver volume. It is better to choose not less than 50 liters.
• Pressure. For uncomplicated operations, a model with a pressure of 8-12 kg/cm² is suitable
• Power. For household needs it is enough 1-1,5 kW, but as a rule, stop at 2,5 kW.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of the pneumatic nutrunner. it’s high power, ability to work intensively. No electric current inside, so it is safe to use in humid, dusty or explosive environment. Additionally, air tools are more compact and lighter than electric tools.

The main disadvantage of the air tool relates to the power control. Not every powerful model is acceptable if little torque is needed. But uncontrolled excessive power causes breakage or damage to bolts.

Angled air brushes

Angle type brushes, like the standard type, are used for turning screws, nuts, bolts and other fasteners. The curved shape makes it ideal for use in confined spaces. Angle ratchets are widely used in tire dealers, car service centers, production plants and similar environments.

There are several features of the adjustable torque version. The main ones are the following:

• the spindle rotation axis is at right angles to the housing, which makes the tightening torque minimal;
• Air brushes have compact dimensions, making them easy to use in hard-to-reach places (such as under the car hood);
• automatic torque controller is built into the housing;
• technical basic parameters ensure a high level of performance.

Pneumatic torque wrench with torque control

Most modern impact wrenches have a tightening adjustment feature. The main purpose of this function is to prevent fasteners from overtightening, thread stripping or head breaking. Adjustment is useful for relatively small nuts and bolts, high torque tools. M8 fasteners are likely to be damaged if tightened with a tool without a regulator, with a maximum torque of 1000 Nm.

The principle of the adjustable air ratchet is to limit the air supply so that the torque is reduced. For example: if you set the Fubag 900 Nm air screwdriver to issue, its torque will be reduced to 450 Nm, which allows you to confidently tighten the fasteners M14. The number of modes on different tools may vary, but on average they are from 3 to 5. Information on the modes of operation is specified in the documentation supplied with the tool. Each individual device has its own characteristics of adjustable capacities.

How the tank capacity can replace the power

Requires sufficient compressed air for the air tool to operate. It does not matter whether the medium comes from a compressed air reservoir or directly from the compressor. The bigger the storage capacity, the longer the air supply keeps the tool running.

The compressor unit will pump a full receiver normally, without overloading or danger of overheating.

The air tool uses up the medium quickly but not for long before it runs out.

While the tool is at a standstill, the compressor pumps a new portion of compressed air into the reservoir.

When the air tool needs to be turned on again, there is a sufficient amount of fluid ready in the reservoir.

In this way, a tool with high compressed air consumption can be provided by a compressor of relatively low capacity. The key is to correctly calculate the air output in relation to the reservoir volume. This is especially important for reciprocating compressors that are designed for intermittent operation only.

How to correctly size the air reservoir for various tools?

The main task is to determine the actual consumption of pneumatic tools. If the work is performed only ten minutes during the day, the receiver should be selected according to this value. Count on the compressor running in the mode recommended by the manufacturer.

A blow gun

This tool consumes about 200 liters per minute. A compressor with a 24-litre air tank and a capacity of 200 l/min at 4-6 bar operating pressure could be used in principle. Such a machine costs around 5,000.

If using a purge gun to remove dust from computer equipment or other apparatus, an oil-free compressor is needed. For blowing out the pipes in the country you can use any setting, but the receiver is better to take on 50 liters. A 24 liter tank is not enough to blow air into a pipe that is more than 15 meters long.

An electric screwdriver or drill

These tools consume 300 liters of compressed air per minute. Requires a compressor with a capacity of 400 l/min, complete with a receiver for 50 liters. If the compressor capacity is less than 375 l/min, you need to compensate for the low capacity by enlarging the air tank to 100 dm3.

Spray guns

Depending on the model of the spray gun, the power consumption varies from 200 to 600 l/min. Working pressure. from 4 to 8 atmospheres. Compressors with 400 l/min capacity and 100 l air tank to handle LVLP paint spray guns.

For HP and HVLP sprayers, you must buy a unit that generates from 0.6 m3/min with a 100 liter air tank. Another option. to install on a compressor with a capacity of 400 l / min additional air receivers for 200-300 liters.

Nutrunners

A standard passenger car impact wrench uses about 500 liters of compressed air per minute. Tools for off-highway wheel spraying require 700 lpm. A compressor that produces 0.5 m3 /min, and with a 100 l air tank it can handle it, but it will work up a sweat.

To hook up an impact wrench for jeeps and pickups, you need a compressor unit with a capacity of 0.8 m3 of compressed air per minute. A minimum tank capacity of 200 liters is recommended for this application. Especially if the work is expected to be intense.

Sandblasters

The blast cleaning machines consume 700 liters of compressed air per minute and more. This equipment must be connected to a compressor with a capacity from 0.7 m3/min. The air reservoir size will need to be matched to the expected payload.

The tank volume of 100 liters is suitable if you plan to work continuously for one minute or less. If the abrasive is supposed to blast metal parts with an area of 1-1.5 m2, 200-400 l capacity air tank is necessary

How to choose a good air compressor

Household air compressors differ in design, capacity, capacity, volume of pressurized air and other characteristics.

Oil-injected compressors require an oil fill in the crankcase which is used in the air injection process. They are productive, durable, and can run for a long time without interruption. Disadvantages: They need periodic replacement and topping up the lubricant, the pumped air contains oil particles, so it is not suitable everywhere.

An oil-free piston compressor requires no lubrication and is therefore easier and cheaper to maintain. These units are more compact than oil-lubricated ones and supply the user with clean, unadulterated air. The cooling, durability and reliability of these units are not all the same. Despite using low-friction Teflon, wear and tear on the mechanics is faster than with oil-based models. Their operating time rarely exceeds 15 to 20 minutes per hour.

An oil compressor is usually more powerful and lasts much longer. It is reasonable to use them in places where continuous operation of the machine is needed (small production). They are good for painting. unlike oil-free ones, they don’t bubble up, providing uniform and beautiful coats.

Oil-free unit is good for garage and workshop: for pumping tires, connecting pneumatic tools, including those sensitive to gas purity. The machine is easy to operate. no oil refill required.

Available in bar or atmospheres, pressure units are identical. Important for pneumatic tools and a variety of accessories and must exceed the values specified on them. The data below is given as a guideline, when you buy a compressor for the work with some tools ask about the necessary pressure for its functioning and add 1-2 atmospheres for the future.

Air reservoir. metal bottle in which air is pumped. Volume of receiver determines the duration of work between pumpings and time to prepare the device for work. filling the receiver from scratch.

Tool capacity. The capacity of an air compressor is the amount of air it can pump in 60 seconds. Specified for normal operating conditions, select device based on desired maximum plus 30-50% margin.

What compressor to choose for your air tool?

Decide which tools you want to connect before making your purchase. Their total consumption should be lower than the performance of the device by ~25%, otherwise it will work close to the limit of capacity and will quickly fail. A 50-80% margin of safety is not necessary either. For household and most professional tools (nuts, screwdrivers, drills) 6-8 bar pressure is enough, which means that the unit must pump 8-10 bar. The volume of the receiver depends on personal preferences and specific cases. With a large tank, the motor turns on less often and works longer, before operating for a long time to pump the working pressure.

How to choose a compressor for car painting?

For airbrush and sprayer need an oil-free compressor, while the operation of oil compressor requires filters and oil traps. Other parameters depend on the characteristics of the sprayer, and it is necessary to add 20-30% to them. With the painting works will cope household unit with a pressure of up to 5-6 bar.

Maintenance rules

For this practical and very reliable tool to last as long as possible, it is important to follow the rules of operation and maintenance of such equipment.

• cleaning and diagnostics of the impact wrench;
• lubricant replacement;
• Inspection of electric motor brushes.

When buying the set it is necessary to check completeness of the set and availability of all certificates and warranty documents

Consistent performance and flawless operation of the impact wrench is also ensured by proper air conditioning with a special filter, pressure regulator and oil gun, the use of only high quality lubricants.

Have complex gearbox and pinion failures due to wear or overloading, failure of the hammer mechanism and reversing function, damage to the spindle, trigger or chuck repaired by a professional. In addition, it is up to the experts to deal with any malfunctions in the electronic systems to monitor or control, malfunctions in the charger or mains unit, and noticeable damage to the housing.

In the home can come in handy and screwdriver. What types of tools there are and how to choose correctly, you will learn in our article:.