Air Compressors

Air compressors are machines that compress and direct air for industrial applications. Small-scale devices are designed for pneumatic tools such as grinders, drills and nail guns. Manufacturing-scale products are used to drive punching and stamping equipment, power robotic tools, and convey parts. Air compressors that are designed for direct-use applications such as sandblasting and spray painting are also available. There are three basic types of air compressors: reciprocating, rotary screw, and centrifugal. Reciprocating air compressors use pistons to compress the contents of an air cylinder and force them into a storage tank. These piston-driven air compressors are designed for intermittent use. Rotary screw air compressors use twin screws instead of pistons to pressurize air. They are designed for continuous use and have a rated duty cycle of 100%. Centrifugal air compressors are turbine engines that use rotating blades to produce high pressures. Typically, these air compressors are used in power generation and large-scale industrial applications.