Fluid Power Journal

Vacuum Venturis: Air-Powered Generators

By Dane Spivak, Engineering Manager, Davasol Inc. Do you ever wonder why it is hard to open a door when it is windy outside? The reason is vacuum is applied to …

Universal Vacuum Grippers and End of Arm Tools

By Dane Spivak, and illustrations by Daniel Pascoe, Davasol Inc. Design criteria for nearly all systems follow many of the same rules, and it is no different …

Vacuum Valves

Click images to enlarge The most common form of vacuum generation is a vacuum venturi, often referred to as a “vacuum pump.” This can be misleading because …

Turn It Off!

If it’s not needed, then don’t use it, right? An obvious statement, but so rarely is this philosophy employed when using compressed air-powered venturi …

Partnering with Manufacturers to Achieve Energy Savings

SMC Corp. of America, a supplier of factory automation components, has been working with manufacturers for nearly a decade to reduce their compressed air …

Random Pick and Place

In 90% of vacuum pick-and-place applications, the product being handled is a known size, shape, and weight. A packaging machine designed to pick up a 20-lb box …

Rethinking The Venturi Tube

The differential pressure gauge is one of the most overlooked and forgotten measurement instruments in the industry. This is surprising because these devices …

Pump or Venturi?

When a salesperson is quoting a vacuum installation, a common question to the end user is, “Would you prefer a vacuum pump or venturi?” More often …