Knowing how much CFM you need in an air compressor to operate your air tools can be tricky. Too little CFM and you won鈥檛 be able to run your tools continuously鈥攐r at all鈥攁nd too much CFM could mean you鈥檝e overspent on your air compressor!
We鈥檝e developed this helpful air tool consumption chart to help you find the air compressor that鈥檚 right for you. But before we get into the CFM consumption chart, let鈥檚 talk about why CFM matters鈥�
Every pneumatic tool specifies how much CFM, or 鈥淐ubic Feet Per Minute鈥� is required for proper operation; every air compressor specifies how much CFM it can produce. CFM represents the volume of air produced by your air compressor or required by your air tool.
Your tools鈥� CFM requirements give you an idea of what you need your air compressor to do, but it鈥檚 not enough to match the air tool鈥檚 rating and the compressor鈥檚 rating 1:1. This article will help you better understand how many CFM you need to run your air tools.
Your tools鈥� CFM requirements give you an idea of what you need your air compressor to do, but it鈥檚 not enough to match the air tool鈥檚 rating and the compressor鈥檚 rating 1:1. This article will help you better understand how many CFM you need to run your air tools.
Air tools need a CFM that matches the manufacturer鈥檚 guidelines, but what air tool you have and how you use them matters. For example, if you鈥檙e using an impact wrench, are you:
Do you use tools for lengthy periods? Or are your tools only used for a few minutes here and there? These are the types of questions you must ask yourself when determining your CFM needs.
If your application requires you to run air tools for an extended length of time, an air compressor with a 100% duty cycle is recommended so you can operate your tools continuously.
By contrast, tools only used intermittently may be able to get away with a less powerful air compressor that uses an air receiver tank, which may save you money.
Another common scenario that impacts CFM requirements is using multiple tools at once. Running more than one tool at a time can be a highly efficient way to get things done, especially when two or more operators are working on a single job. However, if you鈥檙e running multiple tools at the same time, you鈥檒l need to combine the CFM requirements of each of the tools that will be running to determine your total CFM requirement.
For example, let鈥檚 say your team uses the same air compressor to power a 陆鈥� drill that requires 30 CFM and a grinder that requires 60 CFM. If you use these tools simultaneously, you will add 30 CFM + 60 CFM for a total demand of 90 CFM. You would therefore need an air compressor that can reliably produce 90 CFM of air.
Air receiver tanks are another factor you should consider when determining your CFM needs. Many air compressors require an air receiver tank鈥攊n fact, this is always the case with reciprocating air compressors, which need an air receiver tank and can only produce full air power until the tank runs out of stored air.
In some scenarios, air receiver tanks can help a lower CFM air compressor keep up with a higher CFM demand and can be a good strategy when you don鈥檛 want to invest in a higher CFM air compressor. Air receiver tanks on service trucks can vary from 5 gallons to over 100 gallons.
What does this mean for you? We鈥檝e put together a helpful air tool consumption chart to help give you an idea of how many CFM you need to run your air tools. We鈥檝e also included:
Here鈥檚 a sneak peek:
| 30-40 CFM Air Compressor @100% Duty Cycle, 90 psi |
60-70 CFM Air Compressor @100% Duty Cycle, 90 psi |
90-100 CFM Air Compressor @100% Duty Cycle, 90 psi |
|---|---|---|
| 戮鈥� impact wrench | 1鈥� impact wrench | #5 spline impact wrench |
| Air hammers | Sanders | Pneumatic saws |
| Die grinders | Vertical & angle grinders | 90 lb pavement breaker |
| Ratchets | 60 lb pavement breaker |
To view the rest of the info, download our full air tool consumption chart here!
Depending on the product, 彩票平台大全 air compressors deliver anywhere from 30 to 110 CFM at 100% duty cycle, so you鈥檒l never have to wait for air. Most 彩票平台大全 air compressors also don鈥檛 require a bulky air receiver tank, thanks to the rotary screw technology, which allows them to operate at max efficiency 100% of the time. 彩票平台大全 air compressors are lighter and smaller, and you鈥檒l get jobs done faster, which improves your productivity and profits.
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