CAD-CAM equipment does not always run on the same air as your chairs. Cattani offers dedicated compressors that deliver air at 8 bar. Here is what sets them apart, and how to read their figures without getting it wrong.
Versions designed for CAD-CAM
Cattani's compressed air range includes high-pressure versions for CAD-CAM. Their defining feature is simple: air is delivered at 8 bar for CAD-CAM equipment. There are three models:
- AC 310 : 165 Nl/min at 8 bar, 45 l tank, 1.5 kW single-phase motor;
- AC 410 : 215 Nl/min at 8 bar, 100 l tank, two twin-cylinder heads and two dryers;
- AC 610 : 330 Nl/min at 8 bar, 150 l tank, two three-cylinder heads and two dryers, two three-phase motors for 3 kW in total.
Why 8 bar? Because that is the pressure Cattani designed these CAD-CAM versions for. The exact pressure your machine needs is set by its manufacturer. Check its documentation before you choose.
Twin models of the 5-bar range
Each CAD-CAM version has a counterpart in the standard range. Both share the same tank and the same footprint:
- AC 300 and AC 310: 45 l tank, 620 × 520 × 750 mm, 73.6 dB(A);
- AC 400 and AC 410: 100 l tank, 1155 × 550 × 745 mm, 73 dB(A);
- AC 600 and AC 610: 150 l tank, 1320 × 590 × 890 mm, 74 dB(A), two three-phase motors totaling 3 kW.
Good news for your layout: moving from a standard model to its CAD-CAM version does not change the space you need.
Watch the figures: 5 bar and 8 bar are not comparable
Standard models are rated at 5 bar; CAD-CAM versions at 8 bar. The stated flows are therefore not measured under the same conditions:
- AC 300: 238 Nl/min at 5 bar; AC 310: 165 Nl/min at 8 bar;
- AC 400: 320 Nl/min at 5 bar; AC 410: 215 Nl/min at 8 bar;
- AC 600: 476 Nl/min at 5 bar; AC 610: 330 Nl/min at 8 bar.
Do not put these values side by side as if they measured the same thing. To size your system, start from your equipment's air consumption at the pressure it requires.
Size with headroom
Cattani's compressor manual sets a rule that applies to every model: compressor output must clearly exceed consumption, to give the dryer time to regenerate. A compressor that is just enough on paper will be too tight in practice.
For the chairs, Cattani's UK subsidiary recommends at least 50 liters/minute per chair at 5 bar, with chairs working simultaneously. For CAD-CAM, ask the equipment manufacturer for its consumption. If your chairs and your CAD-CAM have different needs, have the whole installation assessed before you choose. Our article “Oil-free dental compressor: choosing the right model” explains the 50 l/min rule.
The same air quality as the standard range
The CAD-CAM versions use Cattani's Air Care technology:
- oil-free: the piston moves in the cylinder without oil lubrication;
- dryer: air passes through silica gel, a sintered bronze filter, then an antibacterial HEPA H14 filter;
- tank: the inside is coated with a resin approved for food contact and with antibacterial properties.
Cattani states that its pistons have been tested for up to 10,000 hours with no reduction in size. To understand why dry, filtered air matters, read “Dental compressed air: why it must be dry and filtered”.
Installation and maintenance
The equipment room must stay between +5 °C and +35 °C. Cattani asks for this temperature to be checked regularly. Maintenance points set out in Cattani's documentation for compressors:
- periodically: open the tap under the tank; if there is moisture, call a technician;
- every 6 months: check the current draw with a clamp meter;
- every 12 months: check the fans; in a clean environment, clean the head filters with compressed air and replace them; check the charging time (from 6 to 8 bar: 45 to 50 seconds);
- by operating hours: bearings, service life of about 10,000 hours; anti-vibration mounts, about 5 years or 5,000 hours.
According to Cattani, routine compressor maintenance should be carried out by a trained technician. Details are on the Maintenancepage. The full range is on the Compressed air.
A Cattani specialist can advise you
Tell us the make and model of your CAD-CAM equipment, the pressure it requires and the number of chairs. A Cattani specialist will suggest the right compressor, with the headroom the dryer needs.
Ask a Cattani specialist for advice
Sources: Cattani, product sheets AC 300, AC 310, AC 400, AC 410, AC 600 and AC 610 (cattani.it); Cattani documentation, manual oil-free compressors 1-2-3 cylinders 02-2023 (EN), p. 7 and 9; Cattani documentation, manual oil-free compressors 1-2-3 cylinders 02-2023 (FR), p. 10, 11, 13 and 14; Cattani documentation, manual compressed air distribution units 02-2023, p. 6, 7 and 13; Cattani, “The dental compressor”, rev. 2016, p. 1; Cattani documentation, routine maintenance poster for suction units and compressors, p. 2; Cattani documentation, extraordinary maintenance poster for suction units and compressors, p. 2; Cattani ESAM UK (Cattani subsidiary), oil-free compressor brochure, p. 4.