Air efficiency, water removal & dust removal
GA-REW nozzles, including the Mechanical Swing Nozzle and Line Blaster, use jet reaction to oscillate or rotate. Explore their use in water removal, dust removal and cleaning through tests against fixed nozzles.
01Principles
Intermittent systems open and close a valve. GA-REW nozzles oscillate or rotate so that the jet repeatedly passes over the workpiece.
Intermittent pulsed air + fixed nozzle
A valve switches the air supply on and off to produce intermittent jets from a fixed nozzle. Coverage depends on the nozzle geometry.
GA-REW oscillating and rotating nozzles
Air flows continuously while the nozzle moves. Force is applied each time the jet passes over the same location on the workpiece.
| Aspect | Intermittent pulsed air + fixed nozzle | GA-REW oscillating / rotating nozzle |
|---|---|---|
| How repeated impacts are produced | A valve starts and stops the air supply | The moving jet repeatedly passes over the same location |
| Coverage | The discharge pattern of the selected nozzle | The area swept by the oscillating or rotating jet |
| Adjustable conditions | On/off duration, nozzle, pressure and piping | Nozzle model, pressure, distance and mounting position |
| What to check when selecting a system | Cycle time, including off periods, and the resulting finish | Flow rate and nozzle count needed for the required coverage |
GA-REW uses “pulse” to describe the periodic impact of air on the workpiece as the nozzle moves. The air supply itself is not periodically switched off.
Some intermittent systems also operate entirely on compressed air, without electrical control. Compare cycle time and total air use at the same required finish when choosing a system.
Reference: GA-REW FAQ on rotary pulsed air (Japanese) ↗Oscillating and rotating designs
A / Oscillating nozzle
The Mechanical Swing Nozzle directs air across a width as it oscillates. Where one unit can replace several fixed nozzles, nozzle count and air use can be reduced.
B / Rotating nozzle
As the tube rotates, the jet repeatedly sweeps a ring-shaped area. This principle is used for air cleaning and for cleaning with added liquid.
02Tests against fixed nozzles
The oscillating nozzle was evaluated for air consumption and coverage width. The rotating nozzle was evaluated using pressure-sensitive film and cleaned-area measurements.
Values and images apply to the conditions in each report. These tests did not directly compare the nozzles with intermittent pulsed-air systems.
AOscillating / Mechanical Swing Nozzle
Flow comparison: one nozzle of each type
Flow rates of the MS-70 Mechanical Swing Nozzle and the reference fixed wide-pattern nozzle were measured at the same supply pressure.
Compared: reference fixed wide-pattern nozzle / MS-70
Air consumption per minute
The Mechanical Swing Nozzle used approximately 28% of the reference nozzle’s airflow. Use the controls above to compare one or three reference nozzles with one MS-70.
Savings refer only to the reference wide-pattern nozzle in this report. Confirm that the required finish can be achieved in your process before replacing a nozzle.
Source: Mechanical Swing Nozzle energy-saving report, pp. 7 and 11 (Japanese) ↗Air was directed at a greased surface and the width of the resulting trace was measured. Test photographs and width measurements are shown below.
Width measurement: 0.4 MPa / 50 mm distance / 5 seconds
Photographs: energy-saving report, p. 8. The exposure time for these photographs is not specified. The 62 mm and 200 mm values are separate measurements on p. 10. These are trace widths on grease, not guaranteed water-removal widths.
BRotating vs. fixed nozzle
A 6 mm × 6 mm area from each measurement image is displayed at the same size.
Compared: fixed nozzle with continuous airflow / rotating nozzle
Red: 2 MPa Pressure-sensitive film changes colour when force is applied. These colours correspond to the converted pressure values shown in the report.
Fixed nozzle, continuous airflow
Red and yellow areas appear as separate spots.
Rotating nozzle, continuous airflow
Red and yellow areas form connected streaks.
Interpretation in the research report
The rotating nozzle produced extensive streak-like patterns. The report attributes this response to shear force acting along the surface in addition to jet pressure.
The rotating-nozzle image enlarges part of the ring-shaped trace; the fixed-nozzle image enlarges the concentrated jet region. The rotating image does not represent the whole area inside the ring.
Source: FY2005 research report, p. 41 (PDF page 43), Fig. 4-1-9 (Japanese) ›The maps include converted values beyond the film’s specified range. Shear also affects colour development, so the colours cannot be converted into a ratio of jet pressure or cleaning power.
Panels (2) and (3) of Fig. 4-1-9 are displayed at the same size. Colours and contrast have not been adjusted. The source images have different resolutions.
Converted values extend beyond the film’s specified range, and shear may contribute to colour development. Do not interpret colour differences as a multiplier of pressure or cleaning power. These results are not a performance guarantee for every current product.
B / Rotating-nozzle cleaning test
University research compared the area from which contamination was removed with the nozzle fixed and with it rotating.
Compared: stationary nozzle / rotating nozzle
Dark areas show where contamination was removed
65 mm × 65 mm
65 mm × 65 mmSource: “Cleaning Characteristics of Nozzle Jets” (2007), p. 11. Photographs are reproduced unchanged. The darker areas indicate removal of metallic soap from the surface.
Area from which contamination was removed
Cleaned area 15 → 486 mm²
Cleaned area 13 → 118 mm²
These ratios compare cleaned areas in the individual tests. They are not multipliers of cleaning power.
Approximately 30× and 10× refer to cleaned area, not cleaning power. Local cleanliness was similar with the fixed nozzle, or better under some conditions.
In the FY2005 test, pressure fluctuated at approximately 60 Hz as the rotating jet passed the measurement point. This was a result for the apparatus tested at that time.
In the 2007 tests, a jet containing liquid droplets cleaned more effectively than air alone. Mist cleaning may be considered where the process permits water.
The approximately 30× result concerns metallic soap on sandpaper; the approximately 10× result concerns ink on cloth. Local cleanliness was similar with the fixed nozzle, or better in some conditions.
The rotating-jet research used equipment from 2005–2007. Approximately 60 Hz was measured with the SPT-5T apparatus in FY2005. It is not a common specification for current Line Blaster or Shock Gun models.
Cleaning Characteristics of Nozzle Jets (2007), pp. 11, 14 and 15 (Japanese) ↗ High-speed rotating flexible nozzle research report, pp. 43 and 62 (Japanese) ↗03Products
Choose a product for your application. Check each product page for specifications and operating conditions.
Water and dust removal over wider areas
The nozzle oscillates from side to side to direct air over a wider area. It can reduce nozzle count and air use in suitable water- and dust-removal processes.
View product details ↗Integration into production equipment
A compact, lightweight nozzle with a rotating tube, designed for dust and water removal when installed in production equipment.
View product details ↗Manual chip and dust removal
A handheld air gun for removing chips and dust from parts and fixtures. Adjust its direction and distance to suit the workpiece.
View product details ↗Cleaning tapped and blind holes
A slim nozzle enters the hole and uses a rotating jet to expel chips and cutting fluid. It is used to clean tapped and blind holes.
View product details ↗The research ratios do not apply to all current products listed above. Standard Tap Hole Cleaning Nozzles are for air only.
Product selection
Replacement may be possible if the required coverage and finish can be achieved. Check pressure, distance, conveyor speed and cycle time, then compare water and dust removal on the actual workpiece.
Air consumption and coverage-width comparisonThe report compares the MS-70 with a reference fixed wide-pattern nozzle. The one-to-one flow comparison showed approximately 72% less air. This is not a comparison with all other nozzles or intermittent pulsed-air systems. Actual savings depend on nozzle count and operating time.
Air use by pressure and nozzle countThe operating principle alone does not determine the answer. Intermittent systems introduce off periods; rotating nozzles move the jet to cover more area. Compare cycle time and total air use while achieving the same required finish on the same workpiece.
Operating principles compared04Product consultation
Tell us about your workpiece, contamination, supply pressure and existing nozzle. Demo-equipment loans are available within Japan only; for overseas applications, contact us to discuss product selection and evaluation options. When comparing systems, check:
Whether the required water removal, dust removal or cleaning finish is achieved.
Time needed to reach the required finish.
Air used for the complete task, including nozzle count and operating time.
References
These source reports describe the test methods, conditions and results. The linked source documents are in Japanese.
Request technical documents ↗
