Pneumatic cylinders are an important part of factory automation systems, especially in China’s manufacturing industry. This article will introduce the basic principles and working principles of pneumatic cylinders in detail, analyze its key components based on the pneumatic cylinder diagram, and explore the key factors that Chinese manufacturers should consider when selecting pneumatic cylinders.
As the core actuator in the field of industrial automation, pneumatic cylinders make significant contributions to improving production efficiency and reducing costs. It can complete actions quickly and accurately, and performs outstandingly in automated assembly and material handling, effectively shortening production time and ensuring efficient production. Pneumatic cylinders have a simple structure, low manufacturing cost, affordable purchase price, and are easy to maintain, with convenient parts replacement and quick fault repair, which can effectively reduce downtime.
In addition, pneumatic cylinders are powered by compressed air, which has low cost and is easy to obtain. Long-term operation can save companies a lot of energy costs and is a key equipment for improving efficiency in modern production.
Pneumatic cylinder diagram and structure.
Pneumatic cylinder diagram:
Internal structure of pneumatic cylinder:
- Piston: The piston is the core component of the pneumatic cylinder and is the source of power for pushing objects or being pushed. The piston is located inside the cylinder and reciprocates under the action of air pressure.
- Cylinder body: The cylinder body is the outer shell of the pneumatic cylinder, usually made of high-strength, corrosion-resistant materials such as aluminum alloy. The body is a long cylindrical structure that accommodates the movement of the piston and piston rod.
- Seal: Seal is used to ensure that the gas inside the pneumatic cylinder does not leak. Seals are usually installed between the piston and the cylinder, and at the connection between the end cover and the cylinder. These seals are usually made of materials such as rubber and have good elasticity and sealing properties.
- Guide: The guide is used to ensure the movement trajectory of the piston inside the cylinder. The guide member may be in the form of a guide rail or a guide sleeve, etc., which is installed inside the cylinder body and connected to the piston. They ensure that the piston does not deviate from the predetermined trajectory during movement.
How do the parts of a pneumatic cylinder work together?
When realizing the propulsion and reset functions of the pneumatic cylinder, the various components work together as follows:
1. Propulsion function:
When the air pressure source injects compressed air into the cylinder through the air inlet, the air pressure acts on one side of the piston, pushing the piston and the piston rod to move outward along the axis of the cylinder (i.e., propulsion). At the same time, the seal ensures that the air pressure does not leak outside the cylinder body, thus ensuring the propulsion efficiency of the pneumatic cylinder.
2. Reset function:
For double acting pneumatic cylinders, when resetting is required, the control valve changes the direction of the air pressure source so that the compressed air enters the cylinder through the other air inlet and acts on the other side of the piston. In this way, the piston will be subjected to a force in the opposite direction and move inward along the axis of the cylinder (i.e., reset). Similarly, seals play a key role in this process. For single acting, the return function may rely on a spring or other external force to achieve.
Different types of pneumatic cylinders and their applications.
There are many types of pneumatic cylinders. This article mainly introduces several common types of pneumatic cylinders. Starting from these types of pneumatic cylinders, the structure and working mode of the pneumatic cylinder are introduced in detail in combination with the pneumatic cylinder diagram.
Single acting pneumatic cylinder
1. Single acting pneumatic cylinder diagram and structure:
A single acting pneumatic cylinder usually consists of a cylinder barrel, a piston, a piston rod, a spring and an end cap. The cylinder is cylindrical, the piston is located in the cylinder, the piston rod is connected to the piston and extends out of one end of the cylinder, and the spring is located on one side of the piston (usually the rodless cavity side).
2. Working method:
Single acting pneumatic cylinders are powered by air pressure in one direction only. When compressed air enters the rod chamber from the air inlet, the air pressure pushes the piston toward the rodless chamber, compressing the spring and extending the piston rod. When the air intake stops, the elastic force of the spring pushes the piston back to its initial position, causing the piston rod to retract. Single acting cylinders are often used in situations where the stroke is short and the return force requirement is not high, such as some simple material ejection devices.
Double acting pneumatic cylinder
1. Double acting pneumatic cylinder diagram and structure:
The double acting pneumatic cylinder structure includes a cylinder barrel, a piston, a piston rod, and front and rear end covers. Air inlets are respectively arranged at both ends of the cylinder, the piston is in the middle of the cylinder, and the piston rod is connected to the piston and extends through the front end cover.
2. Working method:
Double acting pneumatic cylinder is powered by air pressure in both directions. When compressed air enters from the air inlet at one end, it pushes the piston to move to the other end, causing the piston rod to extend or retract. For example, when air enters from the front intake port, the piston moves rearward and the piston rod retracts. When air enters from the rear air inlet, the piston moves forward and the piston rod extends. This type of cylinder is widely used in automation equipment that requires precise control of reciprocating motion, such as the joint movement of a robotic arm.
Guide pneumatic cylinder
1. Guide pneumatic cylinder diagram and structure:
The guide cylinder has a guide mechanism added to the ordinary cylinder. In addition to the cylinder, piston and piston rod, there are also a guide rod arranged along the direction of the piston rod and a guide sleeve matching therewith.
2. Working method:
The guide cylinder uses air pressure to drive the piston and piston rod to move, while the guide rod and guide sleeve ensure the linear motion accuracy of the piston rod. When working, similar to a double-acting cylinder, the reciprocating motion of the piston is controlled by the air inlets at both ends. Due to the guide mechanism, the piston rod can still maintain accurate linear motion when subjected to large lateral forces. It is often used in equipment that requires high-precision linear motion, such as high-precision material handling devices or positioning devices in processing equipment.
Pneumatic cylinder model introduction
- A: Indicates pneumatic cylinder.
- B: Indicates double acting cylinder, which means that air is supplied alternately from both sides of the piston to output force in one or two directions.
- C: Indicates a cylinder with a magnetic switch.
- D: Indicates a cylinder with brake.
- E: Indicates a cylinder with an extended rod.
- F: Indicates a cylinders with flanged connections.
- G: Indicates a cylinder with gear rack.
- H: Indicates a cylinder with a hydraulic lock.
- J: Indicates a cylinder with a joint and a valve.
- K: Indicates a cylinder with a hole.
- L: Indicates long stroke cylinder.
- M: Indicates a cylinder with a motor .
- P: indicates a cylinder with a piston rod seal.
- R: Indicates a rotary cylinder.
- S: Indicates a cylinder with spring return.
- T: Indicates a cylinder with a torque limiter.
- U: Indicates a cylinder with a vacuum generator.
- V: Indicates a cylinder with a valve.
- W: Indicates a cylinder with wireless control.
What factors should be considered when choosing a pneumatic cylinder?
When choosing a pneumatic cylinder, it is really necessary to consider several important factors comprehensively, of which the cylinder stroke, cylinder diameter, pressure demand and installation space are crucial. The following will combine these factors to explain how to design the best equipment layout based on the pneumatic cylinder diagram.
1. Cylinder stroke:
Specify the distance the piston needs to move in the workflow from the pneumatic cylinder diagram. For example, on an automated assembly line, if the pneumatic cylinder is responsible for pushing parts from the silo to the assembly station, then the linear distance the parts move is the basic travel requirement, and a 10% – 20% margin can be appropriately added.
According to this stroke range, the layout should ensure that the pneumatic cylinder has enough space to expand, there are no obstacles around to hinder the movement of the piston, and the stroke direction should be consistent with the direction of material or component movement in the entire production process to ensure smooth movement.
2. Cylinder diameter:
Analyze the size and nature of the load based on the pneumatic cylinder diagram. In application scenarios where heavy objects need to be lifted or large friction needs to be overcome, such as in the transport of automobile engine cylinders, the appropriate cylinder diameter can be calculated using mechanical formulas based on the load weight and required thrust.
When laying out, it is necessary to consider the impact of the cylinder diameter size on the overall structure of the equipment. Pneumatic cylinders with larger cylinder diameters may require more solid mounting supports, and the spacing between them and surrounding equipment must be reasonable to avoid collisions during movement.
3. Pressure demand:
Understand the pressure supply of the entire pneumatic system according to the pneumatic cylinder diagram. If the system can provide a pressure of 0.6 – 0.8MPa, and the workload can operate normally under a pressure of 0.5MPa, then choose a pneumatic cylinder that can work stably in this pressure range.
For work with special pressure stability requirements, such as the fine assembly of electronic chips, pressure stability can be ensured by installing pressure regulating valves and other measures. When laying out, place the pneumatic cylinder in a location where the pressure supply is stable and the pipe connection is convenient.
4. Installation space:
Installation space is an important constraint in design layout. Observe the available space in the pneumatic cylinder diagram. If the space is limited and the shape is irregular, such as in a small equipment control cabinet, it is preferred to choose a compact pneumatic cylinder with suitable dimensions.
Determine the installation method according to the characteristics of the installation space. If there is a flat installation surface, flange installation can be selected. If the space is narrow and long, earring or tripod installation can be considered to ensure that the pneumatic cylinder can be installed stably without affecting the normal operation of other components, thereby optimizing the equipment layout.
Competitiveness and advantages of pneumatic cylinders in the Chinese market：
With domestic development, China has also demonstrated strong competitiveness and significant advantages in the pneumatic cylinder industry. Especially in terms of technological innovation and cost control, Chinese pneumatic cylinder manufacturers have demonstrated strong strength.
In terms of technological innovation, Chinese pneumatic cylinder manufacturers are actively investing in research and development. On the one hand, the design and technology of traditional pneumatic cylinders are constantly improved, such as optimizing the matching structure between the piston and the cylinder to improve operating stability and accuracy. On the other hand, actively embrace new technologies, such as integrating sensor technology into pneumatic cylinders to achieve real-time monitoring and feedback of working status. Meanwhile, relying on the rich scientific research resources and talents in China, we cooperate with universities and research institutions to accelerate technological iteration and continuously improve product performance.
In terms of cost control, China has the advantage of a complete industrial chain. The supply of raw materials is sufficient and the procurement cost is low. From metal raw materials to sealing rubber, they can be obtained efficiently and at reasonable prices. At the same time, the scale production effect is obvious. A large number of production orders reduce production costs and make them more price competitive in the international market.
HANUMAN has a deep understanding of the needs of global customers. In response to the customized needs of global customers, HANUMAN has established a full range of customer communication channels. Whether it is online demand collection or offline professional sales team, we can accurately grasp customers’ special requirements for pneumatic cylinder size, pressure, stroke, etc.
HANUMAN ensures quality and efficiency through highly automated factory production. With the introduction of advanced automated production lines, robots can accurately complete tasks such as welding and assembly, reducing human errors. The automated testing system controls product quality in real time to ensure that every customized pneumatic cylinder meets high standards. The automation of production processes has also greatly improved production efficiency, shortened delivery cycles, better met the needs of global customers, and helped us stand out in the global market competition.
Welcome to consult HANUMAN for more information about pneumatic cylinders!
