compressor from the press

[ZooCity]

I was thinking of just coupling lengths of the regular rubber as it's comparable cost wise and yeah, easy to move around or repurpose.

The thing about black iron is that it's going to corrode unless you have oil in the air and if you have oil in the air you need to separate that out too before it exits.  I totally get why it's used a lot and how you simply filter out the junk at the point of use but it seems like it would put a lot of stress on your filtration after 5 or 10 yrs.

Zelko- 1" copper sounds huge, that's ID? you must be running a massive floor there. 

[JBLUE]

We ran all copper 3/4. Spendy but worth it.

[Screened Gear]

Am I doing something wrong by just running regular rubber airlines? I hear everyone is using copper/sprinkler lines/PVC and everything. What is wrong with a manifold and a few runs of rubber 3/8 ths hose? I run it all at ceiling height and have drops where needed.

[JBLUE]

Am I doing something wrong by just running regular rubber airlines? I hear everyone is using copper/sprinkler lines/PVC and everything. What is wrong with a manifold and a few runs of rubber 3/8 ths hose? I run it all at ceiling height and have drops where needed.

You are not going to get the volume you need through a 3/8 line to run an all air machine. Not only do you need a certain air pressure but you also need a certain volume of air to drive your machine if its not servo driven. For air locks only 3/8 is fine. If I am not mistaken your press is all servo driven so you should be fine. If its air heads and air index you should be having a severe supply problem.

Using PVC pipe is stupid. It is a time bomb waiting to go off.

[Screened Gear]

My press must not use that much air. I have never had any issues even when running 8 heads. That does make sense that if your using alot of air you need a bigger supply line. Learn something every day.

[GraphicDisorder]

We run 1 inch thick hydraulic line. 

[cbjamel]

Galve is best, since the water can be in the air line. No pvc did worked till it exploded in pieces. after 12 years.

Shane

[3Deep]

I,m using PVC sch 40 thick wall for all our air lines 1", have not had a problem yet, and I drain our tank every week.

D

[Zelko-4-EVA]

Zelko- 1" copper sounds huge, that's ID? you must be running a massive floor there.

Four autos, two folders, ink pumps, spray pumps for reclaim... 

[bimmridder]

If you can afford to spend a little money, I'd look at pipe from Legris. It's a polished aluminum pipe. Super easy to use. I ran my entire shop in one day. Three autos, a manual, pumps and tables and other equipment. A tube cutter and deburring tool is about all you need. You can add drops, move pipe, reuse, re route, etc. Not cheap, but super simple. Looks nice, too.

[Binkspot]

The compressor in the thread below did not “explode” but ruptured. I will admit I have never seen one do that. Have had a few crack or blow the welded drain out the bottom or have an inspection cover blow out because it wasn’t secured properly on larger tanks. Some of them we welded back up if offshore to finish the job and or get home. Most boats I have worked on had at least two usually three of four 200 or more gallon air receivers in the engine room and never encountered more then mentioned above keeping in mind even with all the vibration and movement on board. Actually seen more compressors and engines throw rods then have trouble with a receiver. 

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?p=455570#post455570

By the looks of the out side and what can be seen on the inside the compressor has been abused. Actually looks like a portable unit that had wheels on the back at one time, surely drug around, up and down stairs, rolled, etc.  This was a home unit that was way beyond its service life, never drained and full of rust. The unit was built like a beer can with light gauge steel. The rupture started the same place they always crack where water lays and mounting feet attach. Vibration from running starts a small crack which is usually heard or seen long before anything like that ever happens. I am willing to bet there was no shrapnel from the rupture. The injuries to the unlucky guy and damage to the surrounding area were due to the compressor lunging upward at him from rapid decompression, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Now think about the circumstances surrounding the incident and how unlikely it is to happen in anyone’s shop. I am going to assume you would have purchased an industrial grade compressor built a little heavier. Whit that said even if a crack started the better built tank would leak and the compressor would not be able to keep up with rate of loss or would cycle more frequently letting you know something was up. The heavier gauge steel would be strong enough to rapidly decompress before it would rip open. I will also assume you have an auto drain or manually drain the tank daily. I leave the drain cracked open all the time and completely drain the tank at the end of every day. If the tank is properly maintained it should give you a life time of service. I have personally inspected, UT and preformed hydro testing on tanks over 40 years old and never had trouble. I would also hope someone would do an internal visual inspection at least every other year  or a hydro every 5 years. A major factor in the damage done was the compressor was not secured, free to move around. Had it been a larger unit bolted to the floor I really don’t think it would have done anywhere near the damage.

Reeducating myself would be a little extreme at this stage of my life although I do try to learn something new every day. I have been in far more dangerous situations and work environments over the past 25 years then mentioned here or anything someone may encounter in a print shop let alone most people can fathom, still alive and have all the part I was born with. Keep in mind this is my second redo. I have paid my dues in the maritime industry where I started at the bottom and left the industry as Port Engineer for a major tug boat company. I still do consulting, inspections, minor repairs and testing on vessels for owners and contractors. Actually did welding inspections and testing on a 1k gallon lube oil tank and hull the last few nights.

Everyone is all wound up about an event that is less likely to happen then getting hit by lighting and eaten by a shark in the same day. Everyone drives to and from work every day and who knows what other extreme activity with out thinking twice about it. Your more likely to get hit with a pallet on the auto or blowing your dryer up by running a can of spray adhesive through it then the compressor letting go. There are so many other hazards and things to prevent injury in and around our shops and every day lives that are ignored daily. Do you check the fire extinguishers, dates and supplies in the first aid kit? How about the safety devices on your equipment, they all work?

Go with black pipe, filter before the press, cheap, easy and reliable. If the chiller is working there will be no moisture in the pipe to create rust and even if it does rust it will still last for a life time and the filters will protect the equipment. 

[ebscreen]

This thread just gave me an idea. Not that I'm worried about my tanks exploding, but it would be
piece of mind to have them tested.

Buddy of mine works for a rope access inspection company that does a lot of work at refineries.

Any idea what type of test would be best? Ultrasonic I'm guessing?

[Binkspot]

We always did an internl visual yearly looking for a build up of scale in the bottom. If excisive rust or scale was found we would audio gauge the tanks or hydro at the request of the inspector. Every five years there was a hydro test conducted at the rated test pressure stamped in the tank for five minuits or if the tank was not ASME it would be tested at 1.25 times the rated presure (150 psi tank would be tested to 188 psi).
These were required to remain compliant.

[mjrprint]

We have ours in a small room. Just put a muffler on the big sucker and now I can turn it on without killing my ears. Runs 50% quieter now too.

[Prosperi-Tees]

We have ours in a small room. Just put a muffler on the big sucker and now I can turn it on without killing my ears. Runs 50% quieter now too.

You happen to have a pic of that?