McDermott Welding and Fabrication Looks to JetAir to Improve Performance

McDermott Welding and Fabrication of Kersey, PA designs and fabricates fully Automated Parts Oilers for use in the manufacturing of a wide variety of steel parts and components used by the Automotive Industry; anywhere from small automotive sprockets and drill parts to larger converting rods and transmission gears. The Automated Parts Oiler (APO) applies an anti-rust inhibitor to the parts and is a necessary final component of the parts manufacturing process, completing the finishing and adding protection during packaging and shipping.

The Solution
McDermott contacted JetAir Technologies LLC, located in Ventura, CA, about their need for an air flow component to the APO. McDermott required a pressure based flow of air to remove the excess anti-rust inhibitor from the machined parts. The excess oil was drying on the parts, leaving a cakey residue. This made them unattractive and outside McDermott’s and their customers’ quality standards.

The JetAir application engineers provided McDermott with a JetLine Air Knife Blow-Off System run by a JET-2 High-Speed Centrifugal Blower. Instead of traditional “continuous gap” air knives, this system utilized the JetBlast air-nozzle manifold, a series of stainless steel, precision machined ½” nozzles inserted into a stainless steel tube. The custom JetBlast nozzles create a more focused, higher velocity pressure flow that is highly effective in blowing off the excess oil. "We have been very happy with the JetAir System,” says T.J. Nesbitt, Project Engineer at McDermott. “The air nozzle manifold works very well for this application.”

The system is run by a JET-2 high-speed centrifugal blower utilizing Direct-Drive technology. The impeller fan is mounted directly to the motor shaft, eliminating the need for the belts, pulleys, tensioners, and spindles required by the traditional belt-driven blowers used by the industry for the past 40 years. This has done away with the costly and time-consuming maintenance required to replace and maintain these various parts, providing McDermott with increased efficiency in the operation of the APO; a saving of time and money that McDermott is able to pass on to their customers. The compact nature of the Direct-Drive blower gives the JET-2 the smallest footprint of any comparable centrifugal blower, allowing McDermott to mount the blower directly to the APO.

The Direct-Drive technology allows the JET-2 to be controlled by an Allen Bradley PowerFlex 70 Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). The VFD allows for an unparalleled amount of flexibility and control in operating the blower. The VFD is controlled via a Human Interface Module (HIM) that McDermott mounted directly to the control panel of the APO. The HIM enables “push-button” control of the blower, allowing for rapid increases and decreases in speed. Nesbitt reports that this has allowed McDermott to “dial-in” the speed and therefore pinpoint the exact air flow and volume needed for each specific, individual application the APO is used for.

Customer Service
McDermott ultimately chose JetAir based on the superior performance and integrity of the JetLine system, as well as their commitment to excellent service and advanced knowledge of the blow-off industry. JetAir’s engineers and customer service team were involved in every process of this project, from sale to design to delivery and installation. T.J, Nesbitt appreciated the fact that he could always contact the integral members of the JetAir team by phone, as well as their hands-on approach to serving McDermott Welding and Fabrication.

JetAir Technologies, a leader in industrial Air Knife applications, features a range of next-generation, high speed centrifugal blowers and custom-designed air knife systems. JetAir is committed to creating innovative and comprehensive solutions to most moderate pressure, high flow applications where reliability and non-stop performance are critical.