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Fluidics
Fluidics is a technology that uses the flow of a liquid or gas to conduct sensing, control, logic and amplification functions. Pure fluidic devices feature no moving parts, making them simple and reliable. The principles of fluidics are based on fluid dynamics, which governs the behavior of fluids in motion.
What Is Fluidics in Air Compressors?
Fluidics refers to the use of the compressor’s own pressurized air to create control, logic and sensing systems that have no moving parts. Rather than using electronic sensors and mechanical valves, a fluidic system uses carefully designed channels and chambers to direct airflow, creating a highly reliable and robust control layer.
Fluidics technology turns standard pneumatic tools into smart, automated systems, often in environments where electronics are unsuitable.
FAQs
Fluidic controls are a robust and reliable method for automation and process control, particularly in wet, dusty or explosive environments where electronics are impractical or unsafe. In a manufacturing setting, your air compressor provides the clean, consistent air that fluidic control systems use to run automation. They use pressurized air to perform pneumatic logic control.
For example, a fluidic circuit manages the entire sequence of a machine:
- Sense that a part is in position
- Signal a pneumatic clamp to secure it
- Activate a pneumatic drill
- Verify the hole is drilled before releasing the clamp
Through the careful design of channels, fluidic devices act like switches or gates. By directing airflow through AND, OR and NOT logic gates, a fluidic control system can make decisions. For instance, a system can be programmed to activate a stamping press only when a part is present “AND” a safety guard is in place. This creates foolproof safety and process control using only air.
Microfluidics is the science and technology of manipulating significantly small volumes of fluids within channels that are typically less than a millimeter wide. Specialized air compressors act as power sources for microfluidic devices, providing stable, pulse-free air pressure to push the tiny fluid samples through their channels.
A fluidic amplifier is a device that utilizes a small, low-power stream of fluid to control and direct a much larger, high-power stream. This enables a considerably small, safe signal to control a powerful pneumatic tool.
While fluidics is based on the principles of hydraulics and pneumatics, the term “fluidics” is typically used to describe devices that have no moving parts, such as fluidic amplifiers and fluidic logic gates.
No, they are not the same thing, but they’re used to create highly effective systems. Pneumatics perform the work, providing the force required for mechanical tasks, while fluidics utilizes low-pressure air signals to safely handle sensing and decision-making.
For users of compressed air solutions, the benefits are significant.
- Considerable reliability: With no moving parts to wear out, fluidic control operates for millions of cycles with no maintenance.
- Environmental resistance: Fluidics is resistant to dust, vibration, moisture and electromagnetic interference (EMI).
- Simplicity: Once designed, the systems are simple and easy to troubleshoot.
- Inherent safety: They increase safety in explosive or flammable environments.