In an airless paint sprayer, which component controls the spray pattern?

In an airless paint sprayer, which component controls the spray pattern?

• A. Needle valve
• B. Compressor
• C. Orifice
• D. Pump

Answer: (C)

In an airless paint sprayer, the spray pattern is determined by the nozzle opening—the orifice. As paint is forced through that small hole at high pressure, it breaks into droplets and forms the spray curtain. The size and shape of the orifice control how wide the pattern is and how fine the atomization appears: a smaller orifice yields a narrower, finer spray, while a larger orifice produces a wider pattern. The pump provides the necessary pressure, and the needle valve mainly governs flow and shut-off, not the pattern. The compressor isn’t part of an airless system. So, the orifice is the component that controls the spray pattern.

In an airless paint sprayer, the spray pattern is determined by the nozzle opening—the orifice. As paint is forced through that small hole at high pressure, it breaks into droplets and forms the spray curtain. The size and shape of the orifice control how wide the pattern is and how fine the atomization appears: a smaller orifice yields a narrower, finer spray, while a larger orifice produces a wider pattern. The pump provides the necessary pressure, and the needle valve mainly governs flow and shut-off, not the pattern. The compressor isn’t part of an airless system. So, the orifice is the component that controls the spray pattern.