A medical supply air compressor is not just used to inflate tires or to make working with tools easier. It is an essential piece of equipment in scuba diving to allow divers to go deep underwater and in caves and in wrecks. Compressors are used for breathing apparatus for fire fighters and scuba divers in industrial settings, for air and gas, and in refueling vehicles using natural gas. A medical supply air compressor is also the driving force behind the guns sued in playing paint ball.

Industrial medical supply air compressors can be found in almost every factory or manufacturing plant. These powerful compressors provide enough power to operate tens or even hundreds of air tools at the same time, and are vital to keeping the production line moving. For these reasons, industrial medical supply air compressors are some of the most reliable pieces of machinery ever constructed. There are many different sizes of industrial medical supply air compressors available, and these can fill almost anyone's need for compressed air.

A basic compressor will have an air pump, a tank, controls for starting and stopping the pump to maintain pressure in the tank, a pressure gauge and a safety valve. In addition, you will require a hose and accessories, which may include a quick coupler, blowgun, tire inflator and assorted air tools.

Air tools require a certain volume of air to run them. The volume of air that a compressor produces is rated in cubic feet per minute. A compressor tank doesn't produce air it only stores air.

Single stage compressors have one or more cylinders, and each cylinder pumps air directly into the tank. Two stage compressors have at least 2 cylinders, and the air is pumped from one cylinder into another and then into the tank.

There are some very good compressors in both belt drive and direct drive versions, the problem is that most of the direct drive compressors were designed to keep the cost down, and of course that also means low quality. Direct drive compressors are directly connected to the motor shaft and therefore turn the same speed as the motor.