Air graver work time

[mckeenh]

How long will the Lindsay air graver run on co2 in different size tanks? I often would like to demo at some of the knife shows but the noise of the compressor is something to consider. If I had a 144 cf cylinder how long would the air graver operate?

Neil

[Steve Lindsay]

Hi Neil, Here is a thread with info about how much cfm volume the PalmControl and the foot control are using. http://www.engravingforum.com/showth...?t=1052&page=2
At shows with the PalmControl I am going through a 20oz paintball bottle a day. Around 8 hours a day. The foot control would probably go through two bottles a day.

Here is a copy from that thread....

Originally Posted by Steve Lindsay

This picture is a CO2 foot pedal that went out this week. It has an on off/toggle as well as an extra port for rotary or etc..

I tested the air flow of the foot pedal Classic and PalmControl. The read out is in ml/minute and we need it in CFM (cubic feet/minute). I used this page to help convert the numbers.
http://www.iprocessmart.com/techsmart/conversions.htm

Here are the results:
PalmControl set at 35 PSI
Idle: 38.16 ml/min = .001348 CFM
Full throttle: 4333 ml/min = .153027 CFM

Foot pedal set at 35 PSI
Idle: 569 ml/min = .020095 CFM
Full throttle: 4333 ml/min = .153027 CFM

We can average the idle and full throttle together to discover normal usage.
PalmControl normal usage: 2185.58 ml/min = .077718 CFM
Foot Pedal normal usage: 2451 ml/min = .086561 CFM

The stroke adjustment effects the full throttle flow. The above readings were taken with the Classic stroke adjustment at the longest stroke. Both tools use around 2500 ml/min when set at the shortest stroke at full throttle (at 35 PSI). Therefore for average usage of the tools at a short to meduim stroke setting they are using approx .04 to .05 CFM .

Steve

[SVD]

Semi-related question:

Is that the standard CO2 foot graver regulator setup or is the switch to be able to turn it off an extra bit?

I'm just thinking ahead to the toolbox sized setup I want to do for my 'portable' system.

[Danny C]

Seems simple enough to just hook up to the bottle and start the stop watch - or if its a big bottle, the grandfather clock!

[Steve Lindsay]

Originally Posted by SVD

Semi-related question:

Is that the standard CO2 foot graver regulator setup or is the switch to be able to turn it off an extra bit?

I'm just thinking ahead to the toolbox sized setup I want to do for my 'portable' system.

Hi Steve, The on/off with the needle valve is the standard "foot controller without regulators" for $179. We can screw it into the co2 regulator this way or use it with a compressor with a normal air regulator somewhere in the line between the compressor and controller.

[SVD]

That's what I thought but it's always good to check on these things - especially when you're talking to the guy who makes 'em and thus can whip up any special item he needs.
:smash:

[JT Kinney]

Hello To Everyone,

I put this setup togather for shows, and camping trips. The tank is a 6# tank co2 from a soda dispenser unit. The large regulator is a standard co2 regulator, and the brain for the whole unit is from Steve. Just a rough guess as to time is around 48 hours, or about 6 eight hour days. The cost of all items was just over $225.00

Cheers,
JT

[Sam]

Steve, thanks for posting that. I didn't see it in the other thread. Now i can pick a scuba tank for the length of trip i'm going on. I decided on compressed air because i have lots of scuba tanks of all sizes in the garage.

[Danny C]

JT - that setup should run almost a week?! Any idea how long it will run?

Sam - I looked into the scuba tank setup. Anyone can get them at any scuba shop, and they have the "connector" that goes from tank gauge low pressure outlet to pipe. After the pipe, you can hook up any configuration.

I went with a small compressor instead.

[Sam]

Danny, i also went with a small compressor in the workshop, I bought one of the little Thomas 60 db oilless compressors from amazon. I'm just setting up a scuba outfit because i already have everything to set it up. I have lots of tanks in the garage and a compressor to fill them so i'm going to strip down a regulator for engraving so i can take a tank or two with me when i go on road trips. since i am just a beginner i need all the practice i can get.

[airamp]

Hi Guys,

Traveling with a tank filled the regulator has to be taken off the tank.

IF it has a steel screw on cap (welding tanks) it must be on.

Tanks must be secured in car or truck.

these are DOT rules.

Besides being the law, you could end up with a missle and a really messed up day.

Another reason to use 60cf welding tanks like the one pictured but with a tank thread on it for the steel cover filled with nitrogen. Plus more run time than co2.

Be safe not sorry.
Mike