In the old days, dentist had no other choice than to buy a oil-lubricated compressor and use filters in the compressed air line to filter out any oil in liquid or vapor form. But, with filters you can never be 100% sure. Filters will get old and require replacement in time, before they deteriorate. Nowadays, a whole range of oil-free compressors is available on the market. Oilless air compressors have the big advantage that they are 100% oil-free, so there is zero chance of oil in the compressed air system.

With all the different options available on modern air compressors, the proper selection can be a guessing game without the right set of guidelines. There are nearly as many different air compressor and option combinations as there are types of applications. Making a mistake in the selection process can cost you efficiency, extra service and even production.

In the shop capacity, the air compressor is being used to supply an energy source for tools like impact wrenches, nail guns, drills and grinders and blow guns. There are hundreds of stationary and portable tools that use compressed air for their power source. Each device has manufacturer’s specifications for the appropriate amount of pressure (psig, bar or kPa) and air flow (cfm, l/sec or m3/min). The performance of the device is critically dependent on these factors, and these must be kept in mind when selecting an air compressor.

If the compressed air is to be used a power source for certain precision equipment, the selection becomes even more critical. For instance, a pneumatic drill can operate with a certain maximum level of contamination that would not be acceptable for a precision dentist’s drill. Even though both drills must have the incoming air filtered to remove as much dust and water before entering the tool, a dentist’s drill should not receive any contamination at all, including the oil that is commonly used in operating an air compressor. Special types of compressors are available that use no lubricating fluid in the compression chamber – either oil free or oil less.

To further clarify the compressor selection, it is important to consider the duty cycle of the dental supplies Australia. Certain types of compressors are preferred for continuous duty based on their robust design and ability to run at constant temperature, regardless of demand.