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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: Prosperi-Tees on October 15, 2011, 02:16:49 PM

Title: Compressor Oil
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on October 15, 2011, 02:16:49 PM
I bought an Ingersol Rand 5 HP 2 stage air compressor a few months ago and the seller gave me a couple quarts of oil but they have no label on them. Is compressor oil normally clear? It smells like oil. Feels like oil so is it the right one?
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: rmonks on October 15, 2011, 09:54:17 PM
When in doubt Google it. I would check with the Mfg.
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on October 15, 2011, 10:00:09 PM
Yup Googled it and its all good. Wired it up filled with oil and fired it up . Works great now I just have to plumb it. Should there be a regulator before the chiller? There is a regulator on the press already.
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: JBLUE on October 15, 2011, 11:23:41 PM
The only regulator you need is the one one the press.
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on October 16, 2011, 12:03:39 AM
Thats good to know. Today my electrician wired up 3 220s, 1 for the compressor, 1 for the dryer, and 1 for the flash. Now just have to plumb it but that probably wont happen since its hard to source on a Sunday.
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: pwalsh on October 16, 2011, 08:38:46 AM
I bought an Ingersol Rand 5 HP 2 stage air compressor a few months ago and the seller gave me a couple quarts of oil but they have no label on them. Is compressor oil normally clear? It smells like oil. Feels like oil so is it the right one?

Gerry:  One thing to stay aware of is that the total output capacity of a 5hp reciprocating piston compressor @ 100psi is probably going to be quite a bit lower than the total air consumption of your TUF 6/8 Javelin press when running at higher cycle speeds, and/or with all heads running their full stroke length.  You’ll know pretty quickly if your press is using more air than the compressor is producing because the compressor will be running continuously versus cycling on and off

For sure there will be many jobs where you are running the press slower or with less number of heads where the compressor will be able to keep up just fine, but running low on air is something that you will need to stay aware of.  The issue on an all air machine is when the air consumption of the press exceeds the output of the compressor you will suffer a resultant drop off in air pressure, and unfortunately the first place you’ll see the impact is with a lack of squeegee pressure. 
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: JBLUE on October 16, 2011, 10:52:25 AM
The main concern is the cfm output of that compressor. If I remember right our Jav used 17 cfm with all 6 heads going.  Not having enough CFM on this machine makes it difficult to get a good print since you cannot isolate out all of the flip cylinders to increase the pressure to one head.
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: squeegee on October 16, 2011, 12:08:20 PM
Enough Squeegee pressure on those machines can be a challenge even with an excess of CFM's, you could consider installing in-line shut off valves for the flip cylinders for the heads you'll use the least.
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: squeegee on October 16, 2011, 12:20:07 PM
Actually with a few air fittings, the valves and some spare air line you could probably locate the valves in a convienent place on the heads.  Mcmastercarr has all you'd need.
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on October 16, 2011, 12:36:12 PM
In my current space and the limitations of my dryer I will never realize the full potential of the press. Right now I may be able to do 180 an hour until I move the shop because I am limited on amps. Only have 100 amp single phase service. I am sure the compressor will keep up with that. And when I upgrade I plan on getting servo index/ac heads so then I will have more than enough compressor.
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: JBLUE on October 16, 2011, 12:57:40 PM
What is the CFM output of the compressor that you have?
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on October 16, 2011, 01:04:08 PM
14.8 @ 100 psi
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: JBLUE on October 16, 2011, 02:06:02 PM
14.8 @ 100 psi

Yeah its going to be hard for that compressor to keep up with the machine. You will want to do everything possible to minimize excess air consumption.  Do like Squeegee suggested. Proper squeegee pressure on this machine is critical. 
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on October 16, 2011, 02:10:57 PM
Actually with a few air fittings, the valves and some spare air line you could probably locate the valves in a convienent place on the heads.  Mcmastercarr has all you'd need.
What do you mean by this?
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on October 16, 2011, 02:13:57 PM
My intention when buying this compressor was an Anatol Titan but it did not happen so thats what I have now.
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: squeegee on October 16, 2011, 04:45:01 PM
Actually with a few air fittings, the valves and some spare air line you could probably locate the valves in a convienent place on the heads.  Mcmastercarr has all you'd need.
What do you mean by this?

That with fittings and air line you could put stop values on each head *in a convenient place* for the flip cylinders to conserve air.
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on October 16, 2011, 04:56:14 PM
Sorry for the ignorance but I think I know what you mean. The Javelin takes 20+ cfm regardless of how many heads are printing therefore my 14.8 cfm compressor is on the short side, correct? And with fittings and airlines I could isolate the air to where I need it, am I following correctly?
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: squeegee on October 16, 2011, 07:01:07 PM
Exactly, since your compressor is short, I was trying to suggest a fairly easy way to save air on the heads you might not use, fittings/valves/air line are cheap.
Title: Re: Compressor Oil
Post by: mk162 on October 16, 2011, 07:52:53 PM
FYI, the best compressor oil I have found is the synthetic stuff from Northern Tool.  Our compressor runs AWESOME on that stuff.