Air regulator and filter for manual PnP machine - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: julianhigginson
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2018, 03:07:53 am
content: I'm slowly getting the bits together to set up a manual PnP machine that I bought last month. The big thing (for me) is compressed air.I have a basic consumer grade compressor I can borrow sometimes, but for a start I thought it'd be better to have a 2nd regulator dedicated to the machine, rather than just rely on the setting on the compressor.in addition to "6 bar max", the install manual from my P&P machine asks for a 5 micron particle filter, plus "clean dry and oil free air"It seems there's no spec for the L/min requirements, but all it's doing is pressurising the z axis, running a venturi vacuum to pick up parts (I assume that's how we go from pressurised air to sucking components up..) and pushing a syringe dispenser. Slightly possibly it's blowing some air through the attached reflow iron, though I expect that would be better with its own low pressure air pump...This seems far enough away from what most people used pressurised air for, that I'd rather take advantage of the depth of knowledge here rather than ring around hardware suppliers and end up buying something that gives me experience the hard way... so:1) can anyone estimate what kind of L/min I might need?2) what specific thing(s) will give me the air quality and regulated pressure I need?3) And if anyone can recommend a good supplier of such things plus relevant air lines either in Western Sydney or with reasonably fast shipping here, that'd be great!thanks!

author: SMTech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2018, 08:03:35 am
content: Can't help with the where but the most affordable way to get clean dry air is probably something like thishttps://au.kaeser.com/products/air-treatment-and-condensate-technology/dryers/desiccant-dryers/heatless-regenerating-small/However going to that effort seems like overkill for a manual p&P that will use very little air, big p&p machines that use external air sources for vac can use as little as 75L/min .You should be able to find desiccant or even refrigerant dryers on ebay etc. For use in a small room a Dentists compressor would be a good fit (these are quiet, oil free and filtered and maybe even dried) and I'm sure there are plenty from China.

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2018, 08:07:20 pm
content: The vacuum generator (venturi) is really inefficient. My P&P machine has 3 of them (one for each nozzle) and when they are all going, it uses up nearly all the capacity of my 6 CFM compressor. So, I'd guess your one venturi might use about 2 CFM.I think all this stuff about 5 um dry air is a bit of cover your rear, you don't want blobs of water in the air supply, but generally, unless you are in a swamp, a simple paper filter should suffice.Jon

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2018, 06:39:13 am
content: 0.5 micron filter is cheap, and put an oil coalescing filter before it as well, to increase the life of the wound filter element. SMC ones are cheap, and commonly available as well, and they offer the regulator filter as a package, with it having a gauge as well to show the output pressure. you will have a oil coalecing filter as first stage, which will also remove the condensed water in the incoming air, so the drain will need to be checked regularly, then the 0.5 micron filter in another stage and finally the filter regulator, providing nothing extra filtering wise with th5 micron filter they typically come with, but extra space to hold ant water that came past the first 2. 3 units in a line, probably cheapest is the versions with half inch NPT inlet and outlet, and 2 couplers to join the 3 filters in a line, a single bracket to hold them to the case, and inlet and outlet fittings to suit your shop air supply and the PNP air inlet, probably a quick connect for the shop air line, and a 8mm tubing connector for the PNP plastic tubing.

author: julianhigginson
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2018, 09:46:34 am
content: Excellent! Thankyou.So I'll look for an oil coalescing filter, 5 micron filter, and an adjustable regulator with a gauge.And I'll aim for more than 60 l/min. Which is about 2 cubic ft/min.