35 Maintenance Air Supply Operating Environment Warning Warning Caution 1. Perform maintenance inspection according to the procedures indicated in the Operation Manual. If handled improperly, malfunction and damage of machinery or equipment may occur. 2. Maintenance work If handled improperly, compressed air can be dangerous. Assembly, handling, repair and element replacement of pneumatic systems should be performed by a knowledgeable and experienced person. 3. Drain flushing Remove drainage regularly from the water separator, air filters, vacuum drain separator, etc. 4. Removal of equipment, and supply/exhaust of compressed air When components are removed, first confirm that measures are in place to prevent workpieces from dropping, run-away equipment, etc. Then, cut off the supply pressure and electric power, and exhaust all compressed air from the system using the residual pressure release function. When machinery is restarted after remounting or replacement, first confirm that measures are in place to prevent lurching of actuators etc. Then, confirm that the equipment is operating normally. 5. Perform maintenance of suction filters and silencers periodically. The performance of an ejector will deteriorate due to clogged filters and silencers. High flow filters should be used, especially in dusty locations. Vacuum Equipment Precautions 3 Be sure to read this before handling. 1. Type of fluids Be sure to use the compressed air for the fluid. Please consult with SMC when using the product in applications other than compressed air. Additionally, use the purified compressed air, from which the water contents, oily contents, and drains have been removed completely. 2. Control of supply air Compressed air containing a large amount of water content, oily content, and drain, etc. may cause the pneumatic equipment to malfunction. So, install an air filter, air dryer, or a mist separator. Additionally, when applying oil to the compressed air that is used for directional control equipment or actuators, install piping separately so that the air before applying oil is supplied to the vacuum equipment. If oil flows into the vacuum ejector/vacuum pump system, the silencer, nozzle or filter may be clogged, causing reduced performance. 3. Drain flushing If drain in the air filter or mist separator is not removed, the drain flows from the outlet, causing the pneumatic equipment to malfunction. If the drain flushing is difficult, it is recommended to use a product with an auto drain option. For details about compressed air quality, refer to SMC Best Pneumatics No.5 catalog. 4. Use clean air. Do not use compressed air that contains chemicals, synthetic oils including organic solvents, salt contents, or corrosive gases, etc. Otherwise, the product may break or malfunction. Operating Environment 1. Do not use in an atmosphere having corrosive gases, chemicals, sea water, water, water steam, or where there is direct contact with any of these. 2. Do not use in a place subject to heavy vibration and/or shock. 3. Do not use in an environment where flammable gas or explosive gas exists. Usage may cause a fire or explosion. The products do not have an explosion proof construction. 4. The valve should not be exposed to prolonged sunlight. Use a protective cover. 5. Remove any sources of excessive heat. 6. In locations where there is contact with spatter from water, oil, solder, etc., take suitable protective measures. 7. In cases where the vacuum unit is surrounded by other equipment etc., or the unit is energized for an extended time, take measures to exhaust excess heat so that the temperature should be within specifications. Warning 1. Under certain conditions, the exhaust of the vacuum ejector may generate intermittent noises, and vacuum pressure may be uneven. Using the ejector under these conditions will not result in decreased performance, but if the intermittent noise becomes a nuisance, or there is an adverse effect on the operation of the vacuum pressure switch, try lowering or raising the supply pressure of the vacuum ejector to find a supply pressure level at which the intermittent noise ceases. B