The diaphragm pump is one of the many pumps used the WAGNER range of paint sprayers. In this guide, we explain how they work, potential applications for a diaphragm pump and why
WAGNER technology is different from a conventional diaphragm pump.
A paint sprayer diaphragm pump delivers the material to the spray gun and builds up the material pressure so that it can then be separated by the nozzle and ultimately sprayed. The hydraulic pump is driven by an electric motor via a planetary gear. During the lifting motion, a piston drives hydraulic oil under the diaphragm, which in turn moves it. When the diaphragm is pressed upwards, the plate inlet valve closes completely automatically and the material is forced out of the ball outlet valve into the hose. When it is pulled down, a vacuum is created as the ball valve closes. Now the plate inlet valve opens and the vacuum draws in a further quantity of the pumped medium. This is what makes it a vacuum pumps. The piston drives hydraulic oil under the diaphragm again, it arches upwards and the material is pressed out of the chamber into the hose through the ball valve.
The prevailing delivery pressure in the hydraulic oil circuit is limited by the pressure control valve, as is the material pressure. If this is adjusted, the spray jet also changes.
The diaphragm pump should not be confused with the pneumatic double diaphragm pump: this has two diaphragm that move with each other and simultaneously suck in and convey the medium.
A diaphragm pump operates continuously. This means that the diaphragm is permanently in motion. (Other pumps, for example, work until the desired pressure is reached and then stop.) This means that the pressure remains constant and is not subject to fluctuations due to pausing. This means that there is an even spray pattern and pulsations are prevented.
The reduced stroke frequency and the purely mechanical design without a circuit board or control technology also means that maintenance is kept to a minimum. If parts do need to be replaced, the process is quick and easy.
The diaphragm pump can be operated with a minimum of material. Some of our SuperFinish paint sprayers can even be equipped with a hopper. There is no need for a suction hose, which has to be filled with paint. The diaphragm pump can also be equipped with hoses that have a very small diameter, again requiring less material to fill the hose. And finally, the design of the diaphragm pump has been developed in such a way that very small amounts of material can be used, as little as one litre of material at a time.
This is good for the work itself, but you also save material on the job and in cleaning - and ultimately money. The diaphragm pump from WAGNER is also quiet despite its continuous operation. You can spray a variety of materials with a diaphragm pump sprayer.
As a manufacturer of diaphragm pumps, at WAGNER we invented Quality Long Stroke technology. QLS long-stroke technology provides optimised hydraulics and a reduced lifting frequency of the diaphragm. This in turn reduces wear and tear and makes the process much quieter with less vibration, thereby extending the life of your paint spray device.
Thanks to small cross-sections in the device, the WAGNER diaphragm pump can also be used with very small quantities of material. On average, there is 58 % less material in the device than in a standard piston pump!
The diaphragm pump is built into the paint sprayer so that any small parts can be quickly and easily replaced if necessary. Maintenance is therefore simplified thanks to the design.
To achieve this, our paint sprayer are equipped with diaphragm pumps with stepless pressure regulation. This allows you to precisely set the machine to achieve the perfect results for your medium and your area of application.
Many materials can be processed with the diaphragm pump! Including:
Higher-viscosity materials must be tested. Low-viscosity flame retardants, for example, can still be sprayed with a diaphragm pump. For more viscous fire protection, a different pump should be used. Filling compound or plaster is also not suitable for processing with the diaphragm pump.
The diaphragm pump is a very flexible material pump. From applications that only require a very small amount of material to medium-sized project where, for example, a hand-held device is not sufficient, a diaphragm pump is the perfectly solution.
It is also a good pump for all kinds of woodworking applications. Primers, varnishes, wood and metal paints - everything can be sprayed with a diaphragm pump. The diaphragm pump is also suitable for common types of renovation: various types of wall and ceiling paint, for interior and exterior use can be sprayed.
Basically you can say that, from the thinnest liquids to materials of medium viscosity, it can spray everything.
However, when it comes to filler or plaster, coarse and highly viscous materials, a diaphragm pump is not sufficient. For this a powerhouses such as a HeavyCoat or a PlastCoat with different pumps have to be used. Do not risk damaging the device with substances that are too highly viscous as this will severely shortening the service life!
A diaphragm pump is of course different from the other pump technologies that deliver the material in the paint sprayer.
The self-priming double diaphragm pump has not one but two diaphragms. These are connected to a piston rod and move together. Since it is a compressed air diaphragm pump, it is driven by compressed air (as the name suggests). Therefore, with each stroke of the piston, the pumped medium is simultaneously sucked in and delivered through the diaphragms, and this takes place with even less pulsation.
Double diaphragm pumpsThe self-priming double diaphragm pump has not one but two diaphragms. These are connected to a piston rod and move together. Since it is a compressed air diaphragm pump, it is driven by compressed air (as the name suggests). Therefore, with each stroke of the piston, the pumped medium is simultaneously sucked in and delivered through the diaphragms, and this takes place with even less pulsation.
With the screw pump, the material is delivered not by pressure but rather by displacement. Even the thickest, most highly viscous materials can be conveyed and sprayed.
Screw pumpsWith the screw pump, the material is delivered not by pressure but rather by displacement. Even the thickest, most highly viscous materials can be conveyed and sprayed.
The piston pump builds up pressure through the lifting motion of the piston, as the name suggests. In contrast to the diaphragm pump, the piston pump does not run continuously, but rather switches off when the desired pressure is reached. With the piston pump you can also spray highly viscous materials such as filling compound. In contrast to this, the diaphragm pump also has no switchover point.
Piston pumpsThe piston pump builds up pressure through the lifting motion of the piston, as the name suggests. In contrast to the diaphragm pump, the piston pump does not run continuously, but rather switches off when the desired pressure is reached. With the piston pump you can also spray highly viscous materials such as filling compound. In contrast to this, the diaphragm pump also has no switchover point.
XVLP and HVLP technologies are not pumps. Here, air pressure is used to atomise the material in a low-pressure process, so these are turbines. Low viscos materials can be sprayed with them.
Turbine Paint SprayersXVLP and HVLP technologies are not pumps. Here, air pressure is used to atomise the material in a low-pressure process, so these are turbines. Low viscos materials can be sprayed with them.
You will find our electric diaphragm pump in the following paint sprayers, for example:
With the airless sprayers, the material delivered by the diaphragm pump is at a higher pressure as it is forced through the nozzle and therefore separated.
In the AirCoat process, less pressure build-up is required by the diaphragm pump as compressed air supports the atomisation of the material. This achieves a better surface result, making these devices ideal for processing varnish in joinery workshops, for example.
