[TheForge] air compressors, CFM, and psig

[CGRAF]

terry l. ridder wrote:

> plasma cutter
> soda blasting unit
> parts cleaner
> high volume low pressure spray paint unit
> assorted hand held pneumatic tools, die grinders, angle grinders,
> drills, impact tools, 3/8 inch pneumatic ratchet, pneumatic chisels,
> and the ordinary tasks of inflating pneumatic tires, blow down
> equipment, etc.
> 
> 
terry, the real question is, do you foresee wanting to run all of these 
full bore at the same time?
  If so what do each of them require and at what pressures? Just add up 
whatever you see using simultaneously then add 25%/50% depending on your 
level of paranoia.

While it is real hard to imagine a compressor being to big, other than 
the cost and electrical consumption, you might want to consider that two 
or more smaller units staged to come on at different pressures would 
have its advantages. Not in the least is the insurance that redundancy 
gives on not being shut down due to mechanical failure. This could also 
be cheaper to run under light loads.

Mike Graf