PSI

[uber user]

whats the standard operating air pressure for a cmm? our compressor has a leak at one of the regulartors and the air pressure is at 20psi.

[ag1979]

The LK machine we have is supposed to have atleast 80psi, maximum 100psi

[Paul Sarrach]

It is diffenent per Machine. Need to find out Manufacturer requiments

[uber user]

Global Status 09∙12∙08

[bw_bob]

I've run starrett & B&S and usually its set at least 80 psi.

[uber user]

i paged maintenance, four guys show up within minutes (problably bored from reading the paper). they drained the commpressor and cleaned the regulators. there is a huge puddle on the floor from all the water in the compressor and the glass on the regulators where just caked with yellow guuk and are now clean. running at 60psi, don't recall what it was before the problem but i have a call into tech sup to see what the normal operating range is for our machine.

[bw_bob]

Do you have a air dryer hooked up to the main air line. This is something i would not do without. Filters out water and oil in air line ????

[uber user]

yes we have one.

tech sup said that 60psi was correct for our machine.

[Jan d.]

Be careful now, your air must be CLEAN AND DRY too! Most manufacturers specify you also buy an air dryer. The reason is that your air bearings have orfices that are typically no bigger than 0.015". If you have water or dirt in the line, these bearings can easily clog. Best case, they cause your squareness to change. Worst case, they drag and get destroyed. Putting new bearings in is probably almost as expensive as buying a new machine!

The FilterRegulator (FR) unit that your CMM vendor supplies can only handle "nominal" amounts of dirt and water. If I were you, have maintenance instal filters right after the compressor, as well as an air dryer (the CMM vendor can tell you what the SCFM is, for your machine probably between 10 and 20). You will run your CMM trouble free for much longer.

Also, ask your techs whether they can make you a water trap: this is a piece of dead end line that is close to the lowest point of the circuit with a ball valve. Every morning, open the ball valve and let the water out. Works great and again prevents water to enter the air bearings.

If moisture gets into your machine, you are on your way to catastrophic failure. I suggest you take this very serious!


Jan.

[uber user]

Also, ask your techs whether they can make you a water trap: this is a piece of dead end line that is close to the lowest point of the circuit with a ball valve. Every morning, open the ball valve and let the water out. Works great and again prevents water to enter the air bearings.

If moisture gets into your machine, you are on your way to catastrophic failure. I suggest you take this very serious!


Jan.

great idea! i will ask our top-notch maintenace squad if they can do that.

[John Kingston]

Be careful now, your air must be CLEAN AND DRY too! Most manufacturers specify you also buy an air dryer. The reason is that your air bearings have orfices that are typically no bigger than 0.015". If you have water or dirt in the line, these bearings can easily clog. Best case, they cause your squareness to change. Worst case, they drag and get destroyed. Putting new bearings in is probably almost as expensive as buying a new machine!

And even if you catch it, you have to get someone to repair it before you can run!

Also, ask your techs whether they can make you a water trap: this is a piece of dead end line that is close to the lowest point of the circuit with a ball valve. Every morning, open the ball valve and let the water out. Works great and again prevents water to enter the air bearings.

We have done this. Works well. There are some types that will automatically release the water, ours does. But I still go look about once a week.

If moisture gets into your machine, you are on your way to catastrophic failure. I suggest you take this very serious!


Jan.

Very good response Jan

[NikoM]

I am running MicroXcel PFx and the pressure must be set at 55 +/-1 psi.
Be careful if the pressure is too low the air bearings can land on the rails and damage them.

whats the standard operating air pressure for a cmm? our compressor has a leak at one of the regulartors and the air pressure is at 20psi.

[baylorbear]

Machine Problem

I have two Browne & Sharpe DEA machines. We have air dryers and a catch can so to speak before it gets to our room. One of my old CMM Operators was working second and two of the airbearing on the 'Z' rails locked up and shaved a chunk from top to bottom from the 'Z' rail. It was about a ten thousand dollar problem to fix. My plant takes us serious now when we need things. I haven't had any problems since we booted her out of here. After it stripped the z rail clean she kept running it the rest of the night. They take us serious when we tell them that they can't just put anyone running a cmm either.

[bw_bob]

It's amazing sometimes. Management thinks if they can walk,talk and breath then they can run a CMM. I've had people i know could not find their way to work without directions and i was suppose to train them. Amazing