General Machine Products 89300 AirStream Cable Blowing Machine - Manual (Page 18)

Page 18 of 44
High/Low Torque Switch:
This allows the selection of the torque range the Airstream operates in. For smaller cables the low torque
setting will give finer adjustment over low end torque for the machine. Positions are UP for high torque and
DOWN for low torque.
Note: It is not possible to switch between high and low torque once the belts are moving. To switch the
torque press STOP, change the torque switch setting and start again.
Forward/Reverse Switch:
This will change the direction of the belts but only when the machine is stationary to prevent accidental
reversing of the machine while installing cable.
To install cable:
Note: If the belts are stationary for approx. 5 seconds the machine will reset and it will be necessary to
press the start button again to continue installing. This is a safety feature added to protect both the
cable and Airstream motor.
For the first time. i.e. installing a cable type that has not been installed before and whose characteristics are
unknown.
Connect the power to the machine.
Select the high/low torque switch position, if in doubt initially use the low torque setting.
Select the Forward direction.
Turn the torque and speed controls counter-clockwise to the minimum position.
Press “start” button.
The machine will try to push the cable, with the torque control set to a minimum the belts will not turn or only
very slowly.
It is now necessary to set the torque control to a position appropriate to the stiffness of the cable and the
characteristics of the cable insulation. See Appendix 2 for recommendations. If the cable type has been
installed before, the settings will be available; the torque control may be set at the previously determined
position.
Set the torque control to the position determined above and turn the speed control. The rollers will now start to
turn and the cable will feed through the air box (increase speed setting to max. if required). When the cable
has travelled a reasonable distance, (say 300ft/100 meters) turn on the air feed, this will help the machine to
feed the cable.
The tube route, through which the cable is to be fed, should be configured in such a way that the cable can
feed all the way along the tube and out the other end. It will be necessary to be able to determine when the
cable has emerged at the other end of the tube route. A typical way of achieving this aim is to have a
colleague positioned at the end of the tube run; in contact with the main installer using a radio transmitter/
receiver of some description. In this way the main installer may be advised when the cable has completed the
run, he can then stop the machine.
If there is an unexpected obstruction in the tube route the rollers will see this as an increase in torque demand,
assuming the torque control has been set at an appropriate level, the rollers will stop turning before they push
the cable so hard as to cause it to buckle. If (due to lack of previous knowledge of the cable characteristics)
the torque control has been set at a figure which is too small to push the cable the setting may be increased.
Bear in mind that this will increase the risk of the cable being damaged by buckling.