The TECNA 9506AX is an ATEX-certified zero-gravity tool balancer for tools weighing 132-154 lb. Zero-gravity means the load stays wherever you leave it instead of returning to a rest position - let go at mid-height and the tool simply hangs there, weightless to the operator.

Cable travel is 6.9 ft (2,100 mm) and capacity is adjustable across 132-154 lb (60-70 kg) by worm screw. It carries two markings: II 2G Ex h IIA T6 Gb for gas, and II 2D Ex h IIIC T85°C Db for dust.

This balancer is rated for combustible dust as well as flammable gas. The dust marking covers Zone 21 and Zone 22, and group IIIC - the widest dust group, taking in conductive dusts as well as non-conductive dusts and combustible fibres. T85°C is the maximum surface temperature, so it can be used where dust deposits have an ignition or smouldering temperature above 85°C.

What the two markings mean:

• II - for surface industry, not mining
• 2G / 2D - category 2. Zone 1 and Zone 2 for gas, Zone 21 and Zone 22 for dust
• Ex h - protection by constructional safety, to EN ISO 80079-37 for non-electrical equipment
• IIA / IIIC - the gas group and the dust group. Group IIA covers propane, butane, methane, acetone, ammonia, gasoline, toluene, xylene, methanol and iso-propyl alcohol among others. It does not cover ethylene, di-ethyl ether, acetylene or hydrogen.
• T6 / T85°C - temperature class for gas, maximum surface temperature for dust
• Gb / Db - equipment protection level: no effective ignition source in normal operation or expected malfunction

It comes with a manual lock, so you can lock the load in place when you need to - push and turn the pin 90 degrees to hold it, turn it back to release. Only operate the lock with the load hanging.

A friction brake device is available as option F, which controls the speed of drum rotation. It cannot be retrofitted - it has to be specified when the balancer is ordered, so if you want it, order the TECNA 9506.FAX instead of this model.

The balancer must be grounded at installation.

The balancer is intended to be used indoors, at 41 to 140 F (5 to 60 C). Outside that range there will be premature deterioration of the unit or its components. If it will meet chemically aggressive gas, liquid or powder, confirm compatibility with us before ordering.

Four things that are easy to get wrong:

• The tool you hang on it must itself be ATEX certified to a hazard class equal to or higher than the balancer. An ATEX balancer does not make a non-ATEX tool acceptable
• Static electricity carried on people can be an ignition source. Ground every conductive object, not just the balancer
• Do not let the snap hook strike other metal nearby. That can throw a mechanical spark
• Do not use the balancer if it is visibly damaged. Unintended friction is an ignition risk in its own right

Specifications:

• Capacity: 132-154 lb (60-70 kg), adjustable by worm screw
• Cable travel: 6.9 ft (2,100 mm)
• ATEX marking, gas: II 2G Ex h IIA T6 Gb
• ATEX marking, dust: II 2D Ex h IIIC T85°C Db
• Ambient temperature: 41 to 140 F (5 to 60 C)
• Unit weight: 34.17 lb (15.50 kg)
• Stainless steel cable
• Ribbed and sealed aluminium alloy construction
• Entirely conductive, grounded, spark-proof materials
• Locking device to hold the load at any height
• Safety suspension, and upper rotary suspension with safety hook
• Safety device against load dropping due to spring breakage
• Taper drum rotating on ball bearings
• Rotary upper hook with ball bearing
• Adjustable stroke limiting device
• Cable guide in antifriction material
• Inert spring drum assembly

Options:

• RC (7270000004) - conductive rotary hook group. It lets the tool turn freely without twisting the cable, while keeping the hook conductive rather than breaking the path a plain swivel would. Rated to 200 kg, and can be fitted at any time
• BC (7190000004) - a locking and unlocking device operated from floor level. The balancer already has a manual lock on the unit itself; this puts the control within reach at ground level, so you can lock and release the load without going up to the balancer
• F - the brake device described above. New order only

The structure you hang it from has to be stronger than five times the balancer weight plus the maximum load - and if several balancers share one structure, five times the total of all of them, each on its own independent connection point. And at every service, check the ground cable and the tightness of that marked screw, and clear away dust - no more than 5 mm of buildup.

Every production lot is sample-tested: a static test at 1.25 times the maximum rated load held for ten minutes at full stroke, to DIN 15112, and a dynamic test at 1.1 times maximum load run for an hour.

Other capacities in the 9502AX-9509AX series: 9502AX (44-66 lb, IIA), 9503AX (66-88 lb, IIA), 9504AX (88-110 lb, IIA), 9505AX (110-132 lb, IIA), 9507AX (154-176 lb, IIA), 9508AX (176-198 lb, IIA), 9509AX (198-220 lb, IIA).

TECNA's guide to the ATEX gas classification system. The model summary in the diagram is generalised and does not match TECNA's per-model tables in every case; the gas marking that applies to this balancer is II 2G Ex h IIA T6 Gb, as listed in the specifications above.

And the dust side, which applies to this balancer: II 2D Ex h IIIC T85°C Db, covering Zone 21 and Zone 22 and dust group IIIC.

Supported in the USA by Tool Balancers USA.