AFM40-03-A: SMC Modular Mist Separator, The Guardian of Clean Air for Industrial Pneumatic Systems

The AFM40-03-A is a modular mist separator manufactured by SMC Corporation of Japan, belonging to the AFM-A series. Utilizing advanced filtration technology, this mist separator features high filtration precision, easy maintenance, and strong safety. It is widely used in industrial automation control systems to remove oil mist, liquid oil, and solid particles from compressed air, ensuring the stable operation of pneumatic equipment.

Core Product Advantages

1. High-Precision Filtration Performance Achieves a filtration precision of 0.3μm (95% removal), effectively separating oil mist particles in compressed air. The secondary side oil mist concentration is controlled to a maximum of 1.0 mg/m³ (ANR) standard units (≈0.8 ppm), ensuring compressed air quality meets high cleanliness requirements.
2. Transparent Bowl Protector Employs a transparent polycarbonate bowl protector that completely covers the housing, enhancing visibility for visual inspection and safety. Operators can intuitively observe the internal status, facilitating maintenance and troubleshooting.
3. Easy Maintenance Design Features an integrated filter element and bowl design. The filter element can be easily held in hand for replacement during maintenance, significantly reducing the required maintenance space by 46%, thereby lowering maintenance difficulty and cost.
4. High Flow Capacity Offers a maximum flow capacity of 1100 L/min (ANR), operating stably at a primary side pressure of 0.7 MPa, meeting the demands of high-flow applications.

Technical Parameters

Parameter	Specification	Description
Port Size	40	Product Size
Port Thread Size	03 (3/8 inch)	Port Thread Specification
Thread Type	Rc	Metric Thread
Operating Fluid	Air	Working Medium
Operating Pressure Range	0.05~1.0 MPa	Working Pressure Range
Max. Operating Pressure	1.0 MPa	Maximum Working Pressure
Proof Pressure	1.5 MPa	Pressure Resistance
Ambient Temperature	-5~60℃	Operating Temperature Range
Filtration Precision	0.3μm (95% removal)	Filtration Performance
Secondary Side Oil Mist Concentration	MAX 1.0 mg/m³	Purification Effect
Filter Element Life	2 years or 0.1 MPa pressure drop	Replacement Cycle
Condensate Storage Capacity	45 cm³	Water Storage Capacity
Weight	Approx. 0.44 kg	Product Weight

Model Breakdown

• AFM:​ SMC Mist Separator Series Code
• 40:​ Port Size 40
• 03:​ Port Thread Size 3/8 inch
• A:​ Standard configuration, Polycarbonate bowl

Working Principle

The AFM40-03-A employs a multi-stage filtration structure. Compressed air enters the inner side of the filter element from the inlet, then flows towards the outer side. Oil particles entering the fiber layer are intercepted by their inertia, collide with each other or with the multi-layered fibers, and are adsorbed by the fibers. Smaller particles are absorbed by the fibers due to Brownian motion. As the particles gradually move outward, they grow in size and become liquid, coalescing on the surface of the special foam plastic layer. They then flow down to the bottom of the bowl under gravity and are discharged. This physical filtration method effectively separates oil mist particles in compressed air, ensuring the cleanliness of the outlet air.

Typical Application Scenarios

1. Precision Manufacturing Equipment Used in semiconductor manufacturing, precision machining equipment, etc., to purify compressed air, ensuring the operational accuracy of pneumatic actuators and preventing oil mist contamination from affecting product quality.
2. Food Processing Equipment Applied in the pneumatic systems of food processing equipment for controlling material conveying, packaging, etc. The mist separator ensures compressed air cleanliness, complying with food safety requirements.
3. Medical Equipment Used in the pneumatic control systems of medical equipment to purify compressed air, ensuring stable and safe equipment operation and preventing oil mist contamination from affecting the medical environment.
4. Automation Production Lines Used in automation production lines for automotive manufacturing, electronic device production, etc., for oil mist separation in pneumatic systems, improving equipment service life and production efficiency.

Installation and Usage Precautions

1. Installation Requirements The mist separator should be installed vertically with the bowl facing downwards and the condensate drain outlet pointing down. Before installation, verify that the air supply pressure meets the 0.05~1.0 MPa requirement and ensure the air source is clean. During installation, ensure the inlet and outlet directions are not reversed; confirm the “IN” and “OUT” markings or arrow indicators for air flow direction.
2. Operating Environment The operating temperature range is -5~60℃. Avoid use in excessively high or low-temperature environments. Relative humidity should be maintained below 90% to prevent moisture from affecting equipment lifespan. The operating medium should be filtered through a 40μm or finer filter before use.
3. Regular Maintenance Periodically inspect the filter element and replace it promptly if necessary. The filter element replacement period is 2 years of use or when the secondary side pressure drops by 0.1 MPa compared to the initial usage stage. Drain condensate regularly, ensuring the water level does not exceed the baffle plate. It is recommended to install an AF filter upstream of the AFM to extend the AFM’s service life.
4. Safe Operation Ensure the equipment is properly grounded before operation to prevent electric shock hazards. Avoid contact with moving parts during operation to prevent injury. Immediately stop the equipment in case of malfunction and have it repaired by qualified personnel. Always release pressure before installation to prevent injury from high-pressure media discharge.

Concluding Summary

The AFM40-03-A Modular Mist Separator is the “Guardian of Clean Air” in the field of industrial automation. It perfectly combines high-precision filtration, transparent visibility, and easy maintenance, providing an efficient, reliable, and convenient compressed air purification solution for various industrial applications.

Choosing the AFM40-03-A means choosing to drive your automation system towards higher efficiency with high cleanliness and high reliability!

AFM4000-03-J

AFM40-N06-WZ

AFM3000-02C-8R

AFM40-N03-2

AFM20-02B-2R

AFM3000-02B-6J

AFM20-N01-C

AFM30-03D-W

AFM40-N04C-W

AFM4000-04-6W

AFM4000-04C

AFM40-06-6W

AFM30-F03B-A

AFM30-02C-D

EAFM4000-F04D

AFM40-04-J

AFM20-N01B-C

AFM3000-03-6R

AFM4000-06BC-2R

AFM40-F06B-W