Ventilation and dust collection are essential aspects of safe and efficient CNC work. Air quality in the shop has an impact on safety, production, and the health of everyone present, and allowing dust or debris to build up can increase the likelihood of fire and slipping while also accelerating machine wear.
Vacuum pumps play a key role in these areas, in addition to providing the suction needed to hold workpieces in place during cutting.
There are four common types of vacuum pump technology to explore when considering what’s best for your shop: claw, Roots, rotary vane, and regenerative blowers. Here is a closer look at each of these four types of vacuum pump technology to help uncover which may be best for your specific working environment. Understanding the different types of vacuum pumps is crucial for selecting the right equipment. An industrial vacuum pump is essential in various industrial processes, ensuring efficient vacuum systems across a wide range of manufacturing applications.
CLAW POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT VACUUM PUMP
Claw vacuum pumps, as their name suggests, feature two claw-shaped rotors mounted in a cylinder and moving in opposite directions. Similar to a positive displacement vacuum pump, the shape of these claw rotors extracts, compresses, and expels the pumped medium when operating.
Claw pumps are relied on for their strength and efficiency in certain applications and provide a high level of performance with a minimal amount of noise. They are considered a safe and durable option, although they also have a tight tolerance and are thus not recommended for use in most dust-filled environments (like CNC shops).
ROOTS VACUUM PUMP
Roots vacuum pumps are a popular option for twin-lobe rotary positive displacement pumps. They are dry vacuum pumps used together with backing pumps (either rotary vane or dry pumps) in a wide range of applications where high pumping speeds are required. High vacuum levels are crucial in applications such as vacuum brazing and electron beam welding, where the specific needs of the application determine the required vacuum level.
Roots pumps may be operated at high speeds without mechanical wear and are not oil-sealed, operating contact-free without sealing fluids present in the working chamber.
While claw and Roots vacuum pumps are both commonly used options, rotary vane, and regenerative blowers will deliver better performance within most CNC applications.
ROTARY VANE VACUUM PUMPS
Rotary vane vacuum pumps enable the compression of air inside the pump chamber to create suction for removing gas molecules from a vessel or area. The design consists of a rotor mounted inside a cylindrical housing and blades mounted inside the rotor, which moves in and out due to centrifugal force following the internal surface of the housing. As the pump removes these gas molecules, it changes pressure within the vacuum chamber, essential for maintaining effective vacuum conditions.
Rotary vane pumps come in various high-capacity models and can handle varying demand levels. They tend to have a low noise level and low vibration, in addition to being virtually pulsation-free. These factors, combined with their easy maintenance, make rotary vane pumps a suitable option for a wide range of CNC applications.
REGENERATIVE BLOWERS
Regenerative blowers, also known as ring compressors, are used for a wide variety of industrial and CNC applications. These turbo-dynamic vacuum pumps contain a contactless, fast-rotating impeller and are therefore, virtually wear- and maintenance-free. Momentum transfer vacuum pumps can be used in combination with regenerative blowers to achieve ultra-high vacuum levels, enhancing the overall system performance.
On both sides of the regenerative blower impeller are two ring-shaped side channels along with the housing. The rotating impeller pulls air in through the inlet side, accelerates the air inside the housing, and then discharges it through the outlet side once fully pressurized.
Not sure which vacuum pump technology is best for your shop? A ShopSabre CNC expert is ready and waiting to provide you with personalized, hands-on guidance. Contact us today.
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