Your friends at Bimba describe the difference between an oil fog compressed air or pneumatic lubricator and a micro fog compressed air lubrication device. Commonly pair with filters and or regulates as a part of a combination FRL unit, lubrication in compressed air lines can improve the longevity of your pneumatic system. Exposure to extreme temperatures, excess moisture, and operational friction without lubrication can reduce the life of pneumatic components and increase your operating costs. You have two options when it comes to types of lubricators – oil fog and micro fog - which kind of lubricator does your system need?
Oil fog lubricators are what is considered the standard lubricator option. They use systemic pressure drops to feed oil droplets from the lubricator sight dome of the lubricator directly into the system’s air supply. Adding large oil droplets directly into the airline is ideal for components that require heavy lubrication, like:
- Large bore cylinders
- Air motors
- And larger pneumatic tools
Oil fog lubricators are most effective over short distances using level or downhill air lines. Longer or uphill pneumatic lines may require multiple oil fog lubricators to cover all the components that require lubrication.
Micro fog lubricators provide an alternative solution to this. They take the oil drop visible in the sight dome and atomize it, turning it into a fine mist that’s drawn into the air flow naturally. This fine mist travels better over long distances, through complex piping and even vertical air lines. Micro fog lubricators can service more complicated or precise setups like:
- Manifolded systems
- Multi-valve operations
- Air tools of all sizes
- And machines with more than one cylinder
Bimba’s AIROS PGL Series offers both oil and micro fog options to accommodate your compressed air system’s needs.