What is the difference between an intensifier and a crankshaft pump?
The two share the same basic pumping principal: a plunger is pushed into a closed chamber to raise pressure and expel fluid through an outlet check valve; as the direction of the plunger is reversed, low pressure fluid enters the chamber through an inlet check valve. The difference between them is only how the plunger is moved. The crank or direct drive pump uses a crank similar to the one in an automobile engine. The intensifier drives the plunger with a hydraulic cylinder usually with oil. The intensifier pump is not as efficient as a crank pump. It has pressure ripples and is noisy, but it does have a longer seal life and is more suited to 24-hour operations using multiple independent nozzles. The crank drive pump is quieter,using less power. Q: What other differences does a different size pump make? A: The more horsepower that makes it to the nozzle, the faster you can cut. The trade-off with a higher horsepower pump is cost, effeciency, a larger kerf width, and sometimes a slight
