A pneumatic tool, air tool, air-powered tool or pneumatic-powered tool is a type of power tool, driven by compressed air, supplied by an air compressor. Pneumatic tools can also be driven by compressed carbon dioxide (CO2) stored in small cylinders allowing for portability. Most pneumatic tools convert the compressed air to work using a pneumatic motor.
Compared to their electric power tool equivalents, they are safer to run and maintain, without risk of sparks, short-circuiting or electrocution, and have a higher power to weight ratio, allowing a smaller, lighter tool to accomplish the same task. Furthermore, they are less likely to self-destruct in case the tool is jammed or overloaded. General grade pneumatic tools with short life span are commonly cheaper and are also called disposable tools in tooling industries while industrial grade pneumatic tools with long life span are more expensive. In general, pneumatic tools are cheaper than the equivalent electric-powered tools. Regular lubrication of the tools is still needed however.
Disadvantages are the need for an air compressor, pneumatic tubing and pneumatic couplings. Air tools were formerly unpopular in the DIY (Do it yourself) market, but are becoming increasingly popular due to costs decreasing, and have always been ubiquitous in industrial and manufacturing
Most pneumatic tools are to be supplied with compressed air at 4 to 6 bar.
Technical terms
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It is important to know some general specification technical terms used in pneumatic tools while it is also related to how to choose a good air compressor and if the tool can meet your job requirement so that an air tool can be used properly, respectively, Free Speed (rpm), Air Pressure(psi/bar), Air Consumption(cfm/scfm or m3/min), Horse Power(hp), spindle size...etc. Depending on different type of pneumatic tools, there are different specification values that you need to pay attention to.
Flow or airflow, related to air consumption in pneumatic tools, represents the quantity of compressed air that passes through a section over a unit of time. It is represented in l/min, m3, at the equivalent value in free air in conditions of standard reference atmosphere (SRA), i.e. +20 c, 65% of relative humidity, 1013 mbar, in accordance with norms NFE.
Types of pneumatic tools
- Air ratchet
- Airbrush
- Blow Gun
- Jackhammer
- Pneumatic hammer
- Air hammer (forging)
- Air hammer (pile driver)
- Pneumatic angle grinder
- Pneumatic drill
- Pneumatic impact wrench
- Pneumatic jack (device)
- Pneumatic sander
- Pneumatic nail gun
- Pneumatic riveter
- Pneumatic saw
- Pneumatic screwdriver
- Pneumatic scraper
- Pneumatic wood borer
- sandblaster
- Paint sprayer
- riveting hammer
- Needle scaler
- Low vibration air saw
- Low vibration air file
- Shock reduced air hammer
- Shock reduced riveting hammer
- And about 100 more not listed above
Common Brands
- Chicago Pneumatic
- AIMCO
- Apex Tool Group
- Atlas Copco
- ZIPP GROUP
- Campbell Hausfeld
- 3M
- China Pneumatic
- Compair Broomwade Ltd
- Craftsman
- DeVilbiss Air Power Company
- Husky (tools)
- Ingersoll-Rand
- Kobalt (tools)
- Mac Tools
- Makita
- Matco Tools
- Porter-Cable
- Snap-on
- ZIPP TOOL
Common European brands
- Mannesmann Demag
References
