Antwerp Shop Air

Kaiser Air Compressor
A big fish in a little pond
General Info
Make	Kaiser
Model
Serial
Specs	n/a
Manual
Asylum Info
Location	Antwerp East Entry
Rubric	n/a
Training
Testing
Restrictions	green

Description

This is a screw-type air compressor that is sized for the whole building. Presently it is only connected to the Metal Shop and the Machine Shop. Branches in the Metal Shop supply feed the Plasma Shop, the Sand Blaster, and the Powder Coating Facility. Supply pressure is about 100 psi. It has an automatic desiccator between the compressor and accumulator.

There is a copper manifold that spans the whole building, but it needs troubleshooting. Until this is done, connections are made ad-hoc and the compressor is only turned on when it is needed.

How To Turn It On

These three valves must be OPEN to use the compressor.

The compressor closet is located in the Antwerp loading dock entry, between the emergency exit and the utility closet.

1. Find the closet. The light switch is inside, to the left of the door.

2. Don some hearing protection. The next step is LOUD

3. Open the three ball valves that control the air supply. Expect a loud "WHOOOSH." Two other valves are clearly labeled NOT to change.

Press the GREEN button to start.

Note: To open a ball valve turn the handle so it is parallel to the pipe passing through it.

4. Walk around the right side of the compressor unit and find the "front" panel.

5. Press the green "ON" button to start the compressor.

6. Allow a few minutes for the air pressure to reach its control level.

How To Turn It Off

If you were the one who turned the machine on, then you should turn it off when you are finished, unless there are other users.

If there are other users, inform them before you leave that they are responsible for shutting off the air compressor.

Press the RED button to stop.

1. Close the three ball valves illustrated above.

2. Go around the machine and press the red "OFF" button.

3. Close the door and turn off the light.

Note: The present ad-hoc setup of the compressed air system is somewhat leaky. If the system were left running, it would uselessly cycle on and off 24 hours a day to maintain pressure in the lines. When the copper manifold is successfully brought into service, the procedure listed above will no longer be necessary.

Troubleshooting

The most frequent problem is caused by opening the ball valves after the compressor has been started. The pressure transient will throw an error in the machine controller, and it will stop running.

Press this button to clear the error state.

To clear the error state, press the button with the symbol.

If this procedure fails to clear the error, please send an email to <facilities@artisansasylum.com> to report the error.

Air Supply Locations

Metal Shop

An air hose from the compressor room is routed along the shop ceiling into the Metal Shop. The hose descends to the corner between the Plasma Shop and the Powder Coating Facility, attached to the standing wire-rack shelf next to the emergency eyewash.

There are several quick-disconnect hose hookups. One long black hose is seen stretching to the lower right. Other hoses pass through a hole in the wall to feed the Plasma Shop, the Sand Blaster, and the Powder Coating Facility.

The Metal Shop Air Drop, ca. Oct 2024.

Machine Shop

The Machine Shop Air Drop, ca. Oct 2024.

A branch of the air hose from the compressor room descends from the ceiling next to the shop light switches.

There is a multi-outlet fitting located at one of the Tormach CNC lathes. These are currently hooked up to several blow guns around the shop.

Plasma Shop

The Plasma Shop Air Drop, ca. Oct 2024.

There is a regulator, air filter, and air blow gun located in the back corner of the Plasma Shop. In order to properly operate the CNC plasma cutter, the pressure indicated on the gauge should be 90 psi or greater.

A cyclindrical black plastic air filter housing is visible to the right of the regulator. The filter must be changed every few months at the current level of usage.

Sand Blaster

The sand-blaster has a pressure regulator that is plumbed into the cabinet. If the compressor is on, the air supply to the cabinet is guaranteed.

Powder Coating Facility

Similar to the Sand-Blaster, the air supply is connected directly to the applicator gun and to a blow gun in the spray booth. No additional attention is required if the compressor is switched on and operating correctly.