Industries that use air motors and why.

Air motors are motors that convert compressed air energy into rotational power. They're a clean, efficient means of producing power and are used across multiple industries. In this post we're going to discuss the different industries that use air motors, the advantageous features specific to that industry, & provide an example of how they are used.

Advantages of Air Motors: There are certain advantages that span across multiple industries & applications. Below is a list of those advantages:

• Compact and light
• Rugged
• Suitable for sterilizing
• Guaranteed to work every time, even with low feed pressures
• Heat resistant
• Cost effective Small investment compared to electric motor.
• Suitable for working in explosive atmospheres
  
• Resistant to humidity and drops of water
• Simple, low maintenance
• Easy to control and adjust
• Safe. The absence of electricity means no risk of short-circuiting.
• Suitable for frequent Starting and Stopping. It can be used in stall conditions, without breakage or overheating.

Below is a list of industries we're going to discuss:

• Manual Tools
• Food
• Medical
• Machining
• Packaging
• Paper Industry
• Construction
• Textile

Please note, these features we're going to discuss are related to Air Motors we carry on our site.

(Pictured above: the Fiam 15M550D-D6 air motor)

Manual Tools:

Features of air motors for this industry:

• Custom design to build the motor into the tool.
• Special galvanic treatment on inner workings to increase corrosion resistance where the use of lubricated compressed air is not an option.
• Specs:
• Power range: 120 to 800 W
• No-load speed: from 1,000 to 12,000 rpm
• Torque values: from 0.7 to 50 Nm

Case Study: Manufacturing of pneumatic strapping tools that require the motors
incorporated into the tools to be:

• Air-powered, to enable them to work even in places affected by electromagnetic interference.
• Designed with customized and extremely compact geometries to fit inside the tool and its various versions.
• Made from light yet strong materials to ensure ergonomically correct use.

Food Industry:

Features of air motors for this industry:

• Option of external parts made from plastic.
• Stainless steel construction assembled with Domsel double-lip seals and featuring special sealants between the threaded connections. To ensure a high degree of protection from external factors.
• Special galvanic treatment on inner workings to increase corrosion resistance where the use of lubricated compressed air is not an option.
• Specs:
• Power range: 150 to 800 W
• No-load speed: from 40 to 15,000 rpm
• Torque values: from 1 to 50 Nm

Case Study: Manufacturing sause casing clippers using air motors that must be:

• Built to fully withstand frequent machine washing with water and detergents.
• Suitable for contact with food.
• Stainless steel to deliver a high level of hygiene.

Medical:

Features of air motors for this industry:

• Stainless steel construction assembled with Domsel double-lip seals and featuring special sealants between the threaded connections. To ensure a high degree of protection from external factors.
• Special galvanic treatment on inner workings to increase corrosion resistance where the use of lubricated compressed air is not an option.
• Specs:
• Power range: 150 to 800 W
• No-load speed: from 40 to 15,000 rpm
• Torque values: from 1 to 90 Nm

Case Study: Manufacturing of autoclaves for sterilizing hospital instruments. The machine’s door opening and closing motors have to be:

• Heat resistant (130°C)
• Resistant to high humidity
• Suitable for frequent operating cycles.

Machining:

Features of air motors for this industry:

• Compact motors, built from high-strength steel and with manual starting devices.
• Specs:
• Power range: 150 to 800 W
• No-load speed: from 40 to 15,000 rpm
• Torque values: from 1 to 50 Nm

Case Study: Manufacturing machining arms incorporating motors designed to handle various machining processes, including tapping. Motors must:

• Be able to handle high torque levels
• Feature great power and strength, making them suitable for heavy-duty work
• Have a grip for manual lever starting.

Packaging:

Features of air motors for this industry:

• Stainless steel construction assembled with Domsel double-lip seals and featuring special sealants between the threaded connections. To ensure a high degree of protection from external factors.
• Special galvanic treatment on inner workings to increase corrosion resistance where the use of lubricated compressed air is not an option.
• Specs:
• Power range: 150 to 800 W
• No-load speed: from 40 to 15,000 rpm
• Torque values: from 1 to 50 Nm

Case Study: Manufacturing liquid filling, bottling machines, & lines, where the
process of screwing on the container caps is performed by motors required to
have the following features:

• No electricity, which is essential when bottling flammable substances
• Resistance to corrosive liquids, such as sulphuric acids and ammonia
• Produced with output shaft customized to suit the accessory used to screw
• on the cap.

Paper Industry:

Features of air motors for this industry:

• A key, essential requirement is the absence of electricity as a power source to prevent the risk of fire.
• Special galvanic treatment on inner workings to increase corrosion resistance where the use of lubricated compressed air is not an option.
• Specs:
• Power range: 150 to 800 W
• No-load speed: from 40 to 15,000 rpm
• Torque values: from 1 to 90 Nm

Case Study: Manufacturing of paper-making machinery incorporating air motors needed to drive the cleaning rollers that remove ink: the motors are required to have the following features:

• Compressed air supply as electric motors heat up, increasing the risk factors for manufacturing environments (such as the hazard constituted by electric cables).
• Must drive heavy rollers and cope with particularly heavy-duty work given the repeated starting and stopping over the course of various work shifts
• Different sizes to suit the different rollers to be driven, which are often small.

Construction:

Features of air motors for this industry:

• Plenty of scope for customizing in terms of size.
• Compact motors with lever start, made from high-strength steel.
• Special galvanic treatment on inner workings to increase corrosion resistance where the use of lubricated compressed air is not an option.
• Specs:
• Power range: 150 to 800 W
• No-load speed: from 40 to 15,000 rpm
• Torque values: from 1 to 90 Nm

Case Study: Manufacturing power floats and equipment for finishing concrete panels. The air motor will be used on a float for smoothing concrete on building sites. The motor has to be:

• Rugged and able to withstand frequent stress, such as repeated starts
• Impact resistant
• Able to handle water, dust and residues.

Textile:

Features of air motors for this industry:

• Plenty of scope for customizing in terms of size.
• A key, essential requirement is the absence of electricity as a power source to prevent the risk of fire.
• Special galvanic treatment on inner workings to increase corrosion resistance where the use of lubricated compressed air is not an option.
• Specs:
• Power range: 150 to 800 W
• No-load speed: from 40 to 15,000 rpm
• Torque values: from 1 to 90 Nm

Case Study: Manufacture of fabric finishing machinery with high-speed motors built in to drive a fan used in processing the fabric. The motors to be built in have to:

• Work in high moisture conditions. The fabric to be prepared is still in raw state.
• Meet safety conditions in wet areas (electric motors and relevant cables constitute a hazard for wet manufacturing environments)
• Drive heavy rollers and cope with particularly heavy-duty work given the repeated starting and stopping over the course of various work shifts.

You may notice some air motor features popping up often despite being in the industry-specific list. This is because those features are widely needed across several industries. You'll also notice some tools and equipment that air motors go into are extremely specific, like sausage casing clippers. This just demonstrates the vast range of tools / equipment that uses this type of motor. Of course, this list is not exhaustive and there are other industries not mentioned that use this type of product. Wile we've offered a ton of info in this post, a big takeaway is the versatility of air motors across multiple industries, tools and equipment.