Pneumatic reciprocating saws use compressed air to power their reciprocating blades. This process involves several key components working together.
- Air Compressor: Supplies high-pressure air to the saw. Air Inlet Valve: Controls the flow of compressed air into the saw’s mechanism. Piston: A reciprocating component driven by the compressed air. Its back-and-forth motion directly powers the blade. Connecting Rod: Transmits the piston’s linear motion to the blade’s crank mechanism. Crank Mechanism: Converts the linear motion of the connecting rod into the oscillating, reciprocating movement of the saw blade. This often involves a rotating component like a crankshaft or eccentric cam. Blade Clamp: Securely holds the blade in place, allowing for quick blade changes. Exhaust Valve: Releases the used air after it has driven the piston.
The cycle begins with compressed air entering the cylinder through the air inlet valve, forcing the piston to move. This movement, transmitted via the connecting rod and crank, oscillates the blade. As the piston reaches its furthest point, the inlet valve closes and the exhaust valve opens, expelling the used air. This creates a vacuum, drawing the piston back in preparation for the next cycle. The speed of reciprocation is directly proportional to the air pressure and the frequency with which this cycle repeats.
High-pressure air enters the cylinder. Piston moves, driving the connecting rod. Crank mechanism converts this to blade oscillation. Used air exits through the exhaust valve. Vacuum draws piston back to start the cycle again.
Blade speed and cutting power are influenced by air pressure, piston stroke length, and the saw’s overall design. Higher air pressure generally leads to faster cutting speeds and increased power. A longer piston stroke also increases cutting power, albeit potentially reducing the number of cuts per minute.
