An edge bander usually needs little flow, but a steady flow through a whole batch of panels, at a pressure that must not sag. For a compact edge bander and a few workshop tools, a 7.5 kW 4-in-1 screw compressor such as the K 75, which delivers 1.1 m³/min at 8 bar, is usually enough. An industrial edge bander with several units, running alongside a CNC, calls for a K 110 instead.
This article covers the edge bander. The other uses of air in a woodworking shop are on our page on compressors for joinery workshops.
Where does the air go on an edge bander?
The motor, the glue pot and the trimming units are electric. Compressed air drives everything that moves on a cylinder:
- the pressure rollers that press the edging onto the panel edge;
- the end trimming, which cuts the edging at the front and back of the panel;
- positioning the units for flush trimming, corner rounding and scraping, on machines that have them;
- the blowers that clean the panel and the tools, often open as long as the machine is feeding;
- the spray units for release agent or cleaning agent, on machines fitted with them.
The manufacturer gives the total air use in the manual, in the pneumatic supply section, with a minimum pressure, often around 6 bar. The more units the machine has, the higher that figure.
The calculation, step by step
Take a joinery shop with an edge bander whose manual gives 250 l/min at 6 bar, and an operator cleaning panels with a blow gun. Replace this figure with your own machine's.
- The edge bander: 250 l/min. It runs continuously through a batch, so count it at 100 %.
- The blow gun: 150 l/min as a guide while it blows, counted at half because it works in bursts, so 75 l/min.
- Two staplers at the assembly bench: 80 l/min each as a guide, the value in our configurator. They work in bursts: 2 × 80 × 0.5 = 80 l/min.
- Subtotal: 250 + 75 + 80 = 405 l/min.
- 25 % safety margin: 405 × 1.25 = 506 l/min.
- 20 % margin for growth: 506 × 1.2 = about 610 l/min.
The K 75 covers this with room to spare. If your manual gives flow in Nl/min or m³/h, our flow and pressure converter does the conversion.
Which compressor for which workshop?
- Compact edge bander, small workshop: the K 75. 1.1 m³/min at 8 bar, 420 L air receiver, refrigerated dryer and filtration built in.
- Industrial edge bander and CNC on the same network: the K 110. 1.7 m³/min at 8 bar, with a 340 L receiver, dryer and filtration.
- Network already fitted with a receiver and dryer: the S 110. The same flow, supplied without a receiver.
An edge bander starts and stops with the flow of panels. A variable speed compressor follows that demand instead of running unloaded between batches. Our article on variable speed explains the difference.
Pitfalls specific to edge banders
- Pressure dropping at the end trim. When the end trim and the pressure rollers fire together, an undersized hose makes the pressure dip. The edging bonds poorly or the cut is ragged. Feed the machine with a large enough pipe, a receiver close to the compressor, and set the machine regulator to the value in the manual.
- Water in the cylinders. Water in the air makes valves stick and movements uneven. Drain the receiver and dry the air. Our article on water in compressed air covers draining.
- Machine leaks. An edge bander has many fittings and small cylinders. A leak uses air even with the machine stopped. Listen to the machine under pressure at the end of the day.
- Blowers left wide open. Set them as low as works: a blower opened too far can use as much as the rest of the machine.
To size your workshop, enter your machines and tools in the configurator. Send us your edge bander manual with a quote request: we will check the flow with you.
For your trade: Compressor for joinery workshops.