P
USH
C
ORP,
I
NC.
AFD1000
Manual
4.4 Pneumatic Connection
The
1000 Series
Adjustable Force Devices require a dry, non-lubricated, 5 µm
filtered, 80 to 90 psi (5.5 – 6.2 bar) air supply. Failure to provide supply air to these
specifications can degrade performance and will void any warranty repairs
concerning pneumatic components. Filtered air is required since the high speed
servo spool valve used in the AFD cannot tolerate
ANY
foreign material in the
supply air. Additionally, a
minimum
80 psi (5.5 bar) air pressure must be maintained
at the supply air port for the device to operate within published specifications.
Operating at lower air pressure can cause inferior force control performance and
possibly instability. Operating the AFD at pressures over 90 psi (6.2 bar) will
activate a pressure relief valve inside the tool. This valve prevents damage to the
internal load cell due to operating the tool with excessive pressure. This relief valve
is strictly a protective mechanism and should not be used as a pressure regulator
device.
The pneumatic supply system should be configured as shown in the Figure 4.
Figure 4. Pneumatic configuration
If water condensation is a problem in your air supply system, an air dryer device is
highly recommended. The ideal solution is an industrial chiller dryer capable of
reducing the dewpoint to less than 32
F (0
C). Moisture inside the force device will
cause premature failure that will not be covered under warranty.
Under most circumstances the standard internal purge will provide sufficient air to
keep the
1000 Series
free of contaminates. In applications where the environment
contains very small suspended particulate matter, additional purge air flow must be
used to ensure that the AFD remains clear of foreign matter. An auxiliary Purge
Port on the
1000 Series
(See Figure 5.) provides a pneumatic connection to supply
this additional air flow. The port accepts a metric R 1/8 tapered pneumatic fitting.
PushCorp can provide fittings for english or metric tubing. The input pressure to the
purge port can range from 10 PSI to 60 PSI (0.7 – 4.1 bar) with a flow rate of 0.5 to
2.0 SCFM (14 – 56 l/min) depending on the application. The purge air must be dry
and non-lubricated, however it need only be filtered to 20 microns.
