In practice

How does an air preparation unit work?

In the blog 'What is an air preparation unit?' we explained that an air supply in a pneumatic system is necessary to maintain the compressed air quality and to to control the machine centrally. This is extends the life of the components and optimises the operation of the machine in terms of reliability, availability, efficiency (energy consumption), safety and accuracy. In this blog we will discuss the components that are required to achieve this.

In practice

Cylinder cushioning: the three most common methods

Pneumatic cylinders are set in motion by means of air pressure, they accelerate, but at some point they also have to slow down and come to a stop. Depending on the application, different types of damping are used for this: a method or element to completely absorb the kinetic energy that has built up, causing the cylinder to stop in a controlled and safe manner. In this first part of a series of articles on pneumatic cylinders, we explain the three most common types of cushioning and their properties. What are the advantages, the limitations and when do you actually use mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic end cushioning?

In practice

Choosing software for machine maintenance.

Maintenance based on paper schedules or Excel lists is labour intensive and prone to error. Today's maintenance mechanics use handy apps and software tools with which maintenance can be carried out efficiently and at exactly the right time. Various tools provide online access to all necessary machine-related information and maintenance planning. But what do you actually need to consider when selecting such a tool? In this blog, we explain the points for consideration and make suggestions.