Compact compressed air-driven vacuum pump simplifies installation and maintenance

"The greatest advantage of the P3010 range is their compact format and the fact that they are built up of separate modules," explains Niklas Svahn, PIAB Product Manager. "The designer can select exactly which functions are required."

The system core is a compressed air-driven vacuum pump module - based on PIAB's COAX technology - a development of a patented design with three ejectors that expand the compressed air in several stages. This technology consumes less air than conventional pumps: 28 litres/minute at 3 bar for a maximum flow of 84 litres/minute.

The pump module is clipped on to a "click-in" strip, which can take up to four pumps, inserted without tools. There are a number of pump accessories which are all said to be very easy to attach. These include connection modules, vacuum monitors and Quick Release modules for faster working cycles, and extra pump modules to increase performance.

"The design is easily maintained and simple to install," continues Niklas Svahn. "It is for example highly suited for mounting on a robot arm, where suction cups are being used for lifting various components. PIAB's clients in the packaging industry have also shown a lot of interest in the system."

Technical facts

The pumps are only 16.5 mm wide and weigh 98 grams. According to the manufacturer they can create a vacuum as low as -90 kPa at 3.14 bar feed pressure. The pumps can operate with feed pressures between 1.7 and 7 bar. The ejector section with its filter can be taken out in a few seconds without the need to remove the pump. This type of vacuum technology has no moving parts, which means that the noise level can be held down to 66 dBA. No lubrication is needed and there is no risk of static build-up or sparks.