EXAIR™ Super Air Knives

Quiet, hard-hitting curtain of air for blowoff, cleaning, drying, and cooling.

How the air knife works

Compressed air flows through an inlet (1) into the plenum chamber of the Super Air Knife. The flow is directed to a precise, slotted orifice. As the primary airflow exits the thin slotted nozzle (2), it follows a flat surface that directs the airflow in a perfectly straight line. This creates a uniform sheet of air across the entire length of the Super Air Knife. Velocity loss is minimized, and force is maximized as the room air (3) is entrained into the primary airstream at a ratio of 40:1. The result is a well-defined sheet of laminar airflow with hard-hitting force and minimal wind shear.

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Super Air Knife Specifications

The Super Air Knife is available in standard lengths of 3″, 6″, 9″ 12″, 18″, 24″, 30″, 36″, 42″, 48″, 54″, 60″, 72″, 84″, 96″ and 108″.   Special lengths and unlimited system lengths are available. Any number of Super Air Knives may be installed across a given area.

Compressed Air Inlets: A Super Air Knife has compressed air inlets on each end and the bottom. Knives 24″-47″ should use the 2 inlets at opposite ends of the knife. Knives 48″-59″ use 2 inlets at opposite ends plus 1 near the middle on the bottom of the knife. Knives 60″-83″ use 2 inlets at opposite ends plus 2 inlets equally spaced on the bottom of the knife. Knives 84″ and longer use 2 inlets at opposite ends plus 3 inlets equally spaced on the bottom of the knife.

Filtration: The use of clean air is essential. Kits include an automatic drain filter with a 5-micron filter element that is sized properly for flow.

Materials of Construction: The Super Air Knife is available in aluminium, Type 303 stainless steel, Type 316 stainless steel and PVDF. Other materials are available on special order.

Mounting: The Universal Air Knife Mounting System is shown on below The Super Air Knife can be supported by the compressed air pipe. Tapped holes (1/4-20) on the bottom are also provided.

Regulation: A pressure regulator on the compressed air supply provides infinite control of flow, force and air consumption. Kits include a pressure regulator that is sized properly for flow.

Shim Sets: The compressed air exhausts through a gap which is set with a shim. Force and flow may be increased by adding shims. Shim sets for aluminum Super Air Knives include a .001″ (0.03mm) Amber colour, .003″ (0.08mm) Green colour, and .004″ (0.10mm) thick Tan colour plastic shims. A Red colour .002″ (0.05mm) thick shim comes installed in the Super Air Knife. Shim sets for stainless steel Super Air Knives include (3).002″ (0.05mm) stainless steel shims. PVDF Super Air Knife shim sets include (3) .002″ (0.05mm) PTFE shims.

Regulation: A pressure regulator on the compressed air supply provides infinite control of flow, force and air consumption. Kits include a pressure regulator that is sized properly for flow.

Shim Sets: The compressed air exhausts through a gap which is set with a shim. Force and flow may be increased by adding shims. Shim sets for aluminum Super Air Knives include a .001″ (0.03mm) Amber colour, .003″ (0.08mm) Green colour, and .004″ (0.10mm) thick Tan colour plastic shims. A Red colour .002″ (0.05mm) thick shim comes installed in the Super Air Knife. Shim sets for stainless steel Super Air Knives include (3).002″ (0.05mm) stainless steel shims. PVDF Super Air Knife shim sets include (3) .002″ (0.05mm) PTFE shims.

Special Super Air Knives

EXAIR manufactures special Super Air Knives suited to specific application requirements. The shape, dimensions and materials of construction can be modified to fit existing machines and environments.

The curved stainless steel Super Air Knife was manufactured for a laboratory that uses the force of the airflow to hold test tubes in place on a rotating index table. They were able to eliminate the mechanical clips and latches that slowed the test tube removal. This holding method minimized risk of tube breakage and eliminated any chance of puncturing the technician’s rubber gloves.

Special PVC Super Air Knives made of plastic. These products are engineered to work under normal operating pressures, providing the same performance as their aluminum and stainless-steel counterparts. The PVC Super Air Knife was manufactured for a picture tube plant. The softer material was less likely to scratch the picture tube surface and was chemically resistant to the phosphorus which coated the inside.

The flat Super Air Knife is used in a molding machine for integrated circuit chips. Prior to molding the black plastic shells around the silicon wafers, they blow the mold cavity clean of any fine plastic fibers left by the previous cycle. The flat design constructed of corrosion resistant stainless steel was made to fit the tight space of the molding machine.

The double-sided Super Air Knife provides two uniform sheets of air in opposite directions. It is ideal for blowing water from two or more columns of stacked parts (like printed circuit boards) as they are lifted out of a bath or the open halves of a mold. Each side operates independently.

EXAIR’s Super Air Knives are available from stock in many lengths and your choice of four materials. The force, flow and air pattern stay the same for each construction.

Aluminium

The aluminium Super Air Knife is suited to a wide variety of environments where corrosion or contamination is not a factor. The aircraft grade aluminium construction with plastic shim is very durable for general purpose applications. Stainless steel screws are used to eliminate corrosion in damp locations. It can withstand temperatures up to 82°C.

Type 316 Stainless Steel

Some applications require better corrosion resistance than offered by Type 303 stainless steel. Type 316 stainless steel offers excellent corrosion resistance, better strength properties and resists pitting. These factors are important to manufacturers of food, pharmaceutical and surgical products that need to minimize contamination by the metal. It can withstand temperatures up to 427°C.

PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride)

Some applications require better corrosion resistance than offered by Type 303 stainless steel. Type 316 stainless steel offers excellent corrosion resistance, better strength properties and resists pitting. These factors are important to manufacturers of food, pharmaceutical and surgical products that need to minimize contamination by the metal. It can withstand temperatures up to 427°C.

Universal Air Knife Mounting System

Provide Precise Positioning for Your Air Knife!

The Model 9060 Universal Air Knife Mounting System is used to provide secure, precise positioning for any of the EXAIR Air Knives. The Air Knife can quickly and easily be moved within close proximity of the part to improve effectiveness. It can be mounted on the top or bottom of most Air Knives (Super, Standard and Full-Flow Air Knives).

The Mounting System has a durable, stainless-steel construction that is suitable for a variety of industrial applications.
The mounting system can also be used with EXAIR Static Eliminators.

For the Gen4 Super Ion Air Knife, it can be mounted on the top. Bottom mounting is possible on Gen4 Super Ion Air Knives that are 18″ or longer. For the Gen4 Standard Ion Air Knife, it can be top mounted on any length. Bottom mounting is possible on Gen4 Standard Ion Air Knives that are 9″ or longer.

The Mounting System can be articulated into any position and provides a maximum extension of 30″. A 1/2″ diameter hole is required for mounting. Alternatively, the bolt can be threaded directly into a 1/2″-13 tapped hole. For any style Air Knife that is 24″ to 54″, use (2) Universal Air Knife Mounting Systems. For knives 55″ – 71″, use (3). For 72″ – 95″, use (4). For knives 96″ and over, use (5).

Air Knife Plumbing Kits

Super Air Knives that are 24″ or longer must be supplied with compressed air at multiple inlets on the Air Knife. EXAIR’s Air Knife Plumbing Kits make it easy to ensure proper airflow to each inlet. They provide properly sized compressed air hose or pipe and fittings to interconnect the bottom or end compressed air inlets for best performance.

Plumbing kits for aluminum Super Air Knives include a pressure gauge to monitor pressure at the Super Air Knife, which is an indication of proper air supply. They also include nitrile/PVC hose and brass fittings. Plumbing kits for stainless steel Super Air Knives include cut to length type 316 stainless steel pipe and fittings and will also work on PVDF Super Air Knives.

Coupling Brackets

Some applications require a Super Air Knife that is longer than our 108″ (2743mm) length. Coupling Bracket Kits that join two Super Air Knives together are available.

The kit includes two rigid plates along with the assembly screws. The bottom plate is supplied with a hole to access the bottom compressed air inlets. All models include stainless steel screws.