Learning Center

How to hook up the machine

Everything except the compressor, power, and dry ice comes in the rental kit. Hook it up in this order.

1. Set up near the job. Put the machine as close to the work as practical, with your compressor and power nearby. If the machine cannot get close, add extension blast hoses.
2. Connect the air. Run the included 25 ft, 1" air hose from your compressor to the machine. Both ends have 1" Chicago two-lug fittings that lock together. Any pipe or hose between the compressor and the machine must be at least ¾".
3. Using a diesel compressor? Add the aftercooler. It goes between the compressor and the machine, as shown in the diagram below. Water from a diesel compressor jams the pellets without it.
4. Connect the blast hose. Attach the 20 ft blast hose from the machine to the applicator gun, and plug in the round control cable.
5. Put on the nozzle. Attach the nozzle you chose to the applicator gun.
6. Connect power and load the dry ice. Plug in the machine and fill the hopper with 3 mm dry ice blasting pellets.
7. Turn on the air and start blasting. Have at least 100 PSI available. Call us for your first startup and we will walk you through it.

Check pressure, flow, dry air, and hose length before you reserve a compressor.

Still stuck? Call 614-754-7192614-754-7192.

Troubleshooting

If the blast fades, the hose clogs, or the machine does not feed, stop and call us. Tell us what the machine is doing and which model you have. These are the most common causes.

1. Pellets jamming or wet air. Water in the air lines makes dry ice pellets jam. On a diesel compressor, make sure the aftercooler is connected between the compressor and the machine.
2. Loss of pressure before the trigger is pulled. Check the pressure at the compressor. If the compressor reads more than 10 PSI higher than the reading on the dry ice blasting machine, you have a problem. Possible causes:
   • Line loss: Leaks from the hoses, pipes, and connections between the air compressor and the machine. The longer the run and the more connections, the greater the likelihood of pressure loss. This can be hard to trace in a facility with miles of air pipe, but the primary culprit is being very distant from the air compressor, particularly if you are far from an air loop within the system. If possible, turn off the plant compressor and listen. If you hear air escaping from multiple places after the system is shut off, that is likely the culprit.
   • A regulator between the compressor and your machine: Unlikely, but if you are connected to an air line that has a regulator on it, it could be throttling the air pressure to the machine. Trace the line back and look for a regulator. You can also check other drops that have air pressure gauges connected to them.
3. Loss of pressure after the trigger is pulled (for example, 100 PSI before the trigger pull and 60 PSI after). Possible causes:
   • Nozzle too large for the air volume: If you have a 5-Series nozzle but only 50 CFM of available air, you will suffer severe loss of pressure at trigger pull. Try a 3-Series or 1-Series nozzle to see if it makes a difference.
   • Restrictions on the line: The machine connects to a 1" air line and requires a ¾" minimum line diameter between the air compressor and the machine. Check the air line back to the compressor. Any pipe, hose, or connection smaller than ¾" will starve the machine of air.
   • Machine failure: Although unlikely, the machine may have a broken or faulty regulator. On Aero 40 and Aero 80 machines, try turning the air regulator knob on the machine to see if it regulates the pressure up and down.

Still stuck? Call 614-754-7192614-754-7192.

Hook up extension hoses

Extension blast hoses rent in 20 ft lengths and connect end to end. Two extensions add 40 ft of reach, and three add 60 ft.

1. Leave the machine where it fits. The machine can stay on the floor, on the truck, or outside a tight room while the hose goes to the work. On a lift, the machine stays below and the hose goes up in the basket.
2. Connect the hoses end to end. Join each extension to the included 20 ft blast hose, then attach the applicator gun to the end of the last hose.
3. Aero 40 and Aero 80. These use 1.25" extension hoses. We can set the machine up for them at rental time, or give you instructions to do it yourself.
4. PLT 60 and PCS 60. These use 1" hoses throughout, so no setup is needed.
5. Keep the dry ice close. Full pellet totes weigh about 580 lb. Longer hose lets the tote stay next to the machine so loading stays quick.

Still stuck? Call 614-754-7192614-754-7192.