E-Vac® Vacuum Generators

E-Vac® Vacuum Generators

Compressed air powered single stage vacuum generators are the low cost way to create a vacuum for many applications.

What is the E-Vac?

EXAIR’s compressed air powered E-Vac single stage vacuum generators are the low cost way to create a vacuum for:

Pick and place
Clamping
Lifting
Chucking
Alignment
Surface mounting
Vacuum forming

E-Vac compressed air powered vacuum pumps provide instantaneous response and are most commonly used for pick and place operations. They are available in a variety of sizes and flows along with a selection of suction cups suitable for a wide range of applications.

The E-Vac vacuum generators have been engineered for high efficiency to minimise air consumption. These single stage, all aluminium units provide consistent, steady vacuum, unlike mechanical vacuum pumps. Dust and small particulates easily pass through the vacuum generator and they have no moving parts, making them maintenance free.

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Increased Energy & Vacuum Efficiency

Energy and vacuum efficiency are not limited to the Adjustable E-Vac vacuum generators. All E-Vac styles and models can offer significant improvements when looking to reduce the amount of compressed air used for a specific vacuum application. Once the appropriate amount of vacuum and flow for the application are determined, it is important to select the appropriate model that will deliver the best performance while using the least amount of compressed air that it takes to do the job.

Many companies have a centralised vacuum system where the vacuum is generated at a location that is far away from the point of use. The long runs of piping through the plant produce line loss and it is often difficult to obtain that perfect balance of vacuum and flow required for the application. The compact In-Line E-Vac vacuum generators eliminate this problem since they can be mounted at the point where the vacuum source is needed. CAA’s team can help you to select the E-Vac vacuum generator and vacuum cups that provide the right amount of lifting capability while minimising the amount of compressed air usage.

Applications

Pick and place of parts and equipment
Bag/package opening
Label placement
Vacuum forming
Mould evacuation
Vacuum filling
Leak testing
Evacuate containers
Clamping and chucking
Paper alignment and feed in printing equipment
Vacuum packaging
Surface mounting
Vacuum press for wood veneers and laminates
Carton forming
Robotic tooling
Vacuum liquids for testing

Advantages

Compact, portable
Single stage design eliminates fluctuations in vacuum
Quiet
18 Models
Instantaneous vacuum
Easy to mount at point of use
Lightweight, rugged
No moving parts – no maintenance
Fast response – increases cycle time
Durable 6061 aluminium construction
Safe operation – no electricity

Other Applications For E-Vac

E-Vacs are used in many other “non-lifting” applications. They are commonly used for vessel evacuation, clamping, chucking, and other work holding applications. Many types of automated equipment use vacuum to evacuate, grip, hold, align and insert parts. These vacuums can be used for surface mounting, vacuum packaging, bag opening, label placement, carton forming and container evacuation.

Another popular application is using the E-Vac for liquid sampling. This process can easily be accomplished using an E-Vac vacuum generator attached to a liquid holding tube. When the tube is dipped into a vat, tank or container, the compressed air is turned on so it draws a specific volume of liquid up into the tube. When the compressed air is turned off, the liquid flows from the tube and can be dispensed into a container or machine to be analysed.

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EXAIR’s E Vac Vacuum Generator is available in 2 styles:

In-Line E-Vac Vacuum Generator

These single stage, cylindrical units are compact and easy to mount at the point of use. They can be held in place by threading them directly onto a compressed air line or with the use of a mounting clip. Learn more…

Adjustable E-Vac Vacuum Generator

This series of vacuum generators permits easy adjustment by simply loosening the locknut and turning the exhaust to increase or decrease the level of vacuum and vacuum flow. Learn more…

How to Build An E-Vac System

1. Select the E-Vac type.

A. Determine if the part to be lifted is porous or non-porous.
B. Select a style – In-Line Low Vacuum, In-Line High Vacuum, or Adjustable. The E-Vac type determines maximum vacuum available for lifting the part and vacuum cup selection.

Porous	low vacuum generators max. vacuum = 21″ Hg (71 kPa)
Non-porous	high vacuum generators max. vacuum = 27″ Hg (91 kPa)
Adjustable E-Vac	vacuum generators max. vacuum = 25″ Hg (85 kPa)

2. Determine the weight of the part.

3. Multiply the weight by the vacuum cup safety factor for the total vacuum cup capacity needed. See Choosing A Suitable Vacuum Cup

4. Determine the number of vacuum cups needed by considering the following:
A. How many cups are needed to distribute the weight for stable lifting and placement?
B. What is the weight that each vacuum cup can lift based on maximum vacuum available (E-Vac type)?
C. Select vacuum cups from chart based on maximum vacuum available (E-Vac type) and holding weight per cup.

5. To choose an E-Vac model number, consider the entire vacuum system from the E-Vac to the part.
A. Number of vacuum cups per E-Vac
B. Length and size of vacuum tubing
C. Vacuum cup size and type

The volume of air to evacuate from your vacuum system and the vacuum flow of the E-Vac you’ve selected will determine the time it takes from E-Vac activation to vacuum cup holding the part. As the vacuum level in the system increases, the volume of evacuating air decreases.
A lower volume of air in the vacuum system and/or a higher capacity (SCFM/SLPM) E-Vac will give faster pick-up times.
An exact pick-up time cannot be calculated.
If the E-Vac vacuum generator doesn’t meet your needs, return it for a different model.

Here is an example using the steps outlined above:

A sheet of material measures 914mm x 914mm (3′ x 3′) and weighs 11.3kg (25 lbs). Each sheet is in a stack and will be placed on a conveyor.

If it is porous like wood and positioned vertically:		If it is non-porous like glass and positioned horizontally:
1.	Choose a porous, low vacuum In-Line E-Vac. The maximum vacuum is 21″ Hg (71 kPa).	1.	Choose a non-porous, high vacuum In-Line E-Vac. The maximum vacuum is 27″ Hg (91 kPa).
2.	The weight is 11.3kg (25 lbs).	2.	The weight is 11.3kg (25 lbs).
3.	Since the part is picked-up and hung on an overhead conveyor vertically, the safety factor is 4. The vacuum cup capacity needed is 4 x 25 = 100 lbs (45.4kg).	3.	Since the part is picked-up and placed on a belt conveyor horizontally, the safety factor is 2. The vacuum cup capacity needed is 2 x 25 = 50 lbs (22.7kg).
4.	Four vacuum cups will be used for stability when lifting the sheet. Each cup will need at least a 25 lb. (11.3kg) capacity. At 21″Hg (71 kPa), the Model 900755 Vacuum Cup will hold up to 25.3 lbs (11.5kg).	4.	Four vacuum cups will be used for stability when lifting the sheet. Each cup will need at least a 12.5 lb (5.7kg) capacity. At 27″ Hg (91 kPa), the Model 900754 Vacuum Cup will hold up to 20.8 lbs (9.4kg).
5.	There are 4 small round vacuum cups that are positioned close to one another. The vacuum system has a small to medium volume and pick-up and release time is not critical. To reduce the sound level, use the straight through muffler.	5.	There are 4 small round vacuum cups that are positioned close to one another. The vacuum system has a small to medium volume and pick-up and release time is not critical. To reduce the sound level, use the straight through muffler.
Order:	(1) Model 800008M In-Line E-Vac with Straight Through Muffler(4) Model 900755 Vacuum Cups Click here for other accessories.	Order:	(1) Model 810006M In-Line E-Vac with Straight Through Muffler(4) Model 900754 Vacuum Cups Click here for other accessories.
NOTE: The Model 840008M Adjustable E-Vac can be substituted for picking up the wood or the glass since the vacuum level and vacuum flow is easily adjusted to suit the porous or non-porous application. The Adjustable E-Vac is especially useful for loads that vary.