Running A Machine Shop With Portable Air Conditioning Units

The inside of even a small machine shop can quickly heat up because of the operation of industrial tools and the friction that is generated when working with metal. The proper cooling of a machine shop is vital to the operation of a business, since an unventilated space can be hazardous to the workers, the tools and the building itself. Portable air conditioning units that handle this type of industrial space are one part of the solution for a machine shop. It can sometimes take four or more cooling units to maintain a good temperature inside of the building. There are several elements in a shop that can contribute to the amount of heat that must be managed.

Machinery

Large shops must often deal with dozens or even hundreds of machines that are each contributing to an increase in the temperature. This can be caused by multiple turning centers or other tools that use hydraulics and powerful engines. A number of these engines operating at the same time can quickly cause hundreds or thousands of gallons of oil to rise in temperature. This heat is dissipated into the air and can start to affect the performance of other machinery. Shops that do not manage the temperatures around machinery can potentially see interruptions in work because of overheating that locks the tools until the area can be cooled. Portable air conditioners can be used as a cooling solution in targeted areas that might contain high concentrations of machinery that become very hot while in use.

Steam And Moisture

Computer numerical control (CNC) tools come in many different designs. Some of these use water-based coolants to help keep cutting heads and other components cool while a program is running. The result is that the hot components cause the water in the coolant to turn into steam. This steam is then released into the air and can cause the temperature to rise in the machine shop. There are certain systems that can be installed that can help to mitigate some of this release of steam. Portable air conditioning units can be used as a permanent or temporary solution to this problem by providing the ability to reduce the amount of humidity that is created while simultaneously cooling the entire area.

Improper Insulation

Nearly all machine shops require some type of insulation to keep the space warm in the winter and cooler in the summer. Improperly installed insulation or buildings that have no insulation can begin to act like ovens in the summer when the sun hits the exterior walls. Portable air conditioners can be used to negate this increase in temperatures in order to keep the shop at a comfortable level where employees and equipment can operate without problems.