The micro-abrasive blasting process uses compressed air to propel extremely fine abrasive media through very small nozzles. Due to the small size of the abrasive media, even a small amount of moisture contamination can cause the powder to “clump up” and prevent it from flowing freely from the tank – bringing your entire operation to an abrupt halt.
Clean dry shop air alone is inadequate for micro-abrasive blasting. To achieve consistent abrasive media flow, the compressed air source must have a dew point of -25°F. Moist air will cause nozzle stoppage, unnecessary repairs and costly down time. Comco offers two lines of air dryers to combat both oil and moisture contamination in the air: the AD5100 Series Desiccant Air Dryer and AD5100 Series Continuous Air Dryer. Whether you’re blasting only a few times a week or continuous automated production, Comco has the right dryer to protect your system.
AD5100 Series Desiccant Air Dryer
A desiccant dryer is a good, low cost solution for intermittent to steady use of a single Comco MicroBlaster®. It is easy to install, typically mounted near the MicroBlaster® model and contains silica gel desiccant beads that absorb moisture to dew points as low as –25°F. When the beads become saturated, they must be replaced. If the desiccant becomes saturated very quickly, an automatic system should be considered.
AD5300 Continuous Duty Membrane Dryer
 Applications requiring heavy or continuous usage benefit from an automated dryer like the AD5300. These dryers combine a particulate and coalescing filter set with a membrane dryer that will ensure oil- and moisture-free air for micro-abrasive blasting. Designed for continuous duty automatic operation, they provide clean dry air with a dew point as low as –25°F and at flow rates up to 20 SCFM depending on the model selected. Continuous Duty Membrane dryers are passive units requiring no external power source and are easily maintained by periodic replacement of the pre-filter elements.
For more information on Comco’s Air Dryers and the importance of dry air click on the following PDF documents:
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