What Are The Different Types Of Pneumatic Cylinders?

A Pneumatic Cylinder produces a force on mechanical energy, run on compressed gas and by the motion. These cylinders are often used with a certain air pressure differentials for producing the acceleration and force and thus it results in work. Working on the principle of converting the passing potential energy of compressed air in the cylinder into the kinetic and the mechanical energy of motion. Smaller industries prefer this device because of its low budget maintenance, low cost,  barely any cleanliness and very less space for storing fluids. The size, shape, and material of the pneumatic cylinder depend upon its application.

The different types of material used for cylinder include aluminum, stainless steel, nickel, and nickel-plated brass. The materials are chosen on the basis of several factors like temperature, humidity, amount of loads and specific stroke length. These are also available in a wide range of body constructions which include :

Threaded end cylinder: In these type of cylinders, the ends tend to attach to the tube body.

One-piece welded cylinder: In these cylinders, the ends are welded or crimped to the tube.

Tie-rod cylinders are the most found cylinder structures and are used in a variety of applications. They are also found to be the safest for any usage.

Flanged type cylinder has their ends which are fixed flanged.

Here are the three types of cylinders

• The Single-acting cylinders
• The Double-acting
• The Telescoping

The Single-acting cylinders

Often uses the air pressure to move a piston in one direction, pushing itself opposite to the cylinder. In this mechanism,  when the air pressure is released the spring returns to the piston in its original position.

It is very simple to find the air consumed for a single-acting cylinder. The required flow of the air is not just depended on the area and cylinder stroke, but the revolutionary rate of the pneumatic cylinder is also taken into consideration.

 The formula used for the air consumption:

• A =  The Piston Area (Square Inches)
• S = Stroke
• C = Cycle per Minute
• CFM = (A x S x C) / 1728

Double-acting cylinder:

 Pneumatic cylinders double-acting have two parts, one to control each stroke.  For Extension and Retraction strokes, the air pressure is used and allowing the complete operation in both directions. 

The double-acting cylinder is applied for retracting at a different rate and calculation. Thus a change in the calculation of air consumption is found.

The Telescoping cylinders

They come in both single-acting cylinders and double-acting mode cylinders. The USP of these cylinders is that they allow much longer strokes and might be much more applicable when the loading is very less.

 How to calculate Pneumatic cylinder force

The cylinder is a sealed metal tube containing a piston. So, when you feed the pressured air in the tube it forces the piston in or out. The rod connected to the piston is supplied via a force from cylinder to external object or mechanism. The pressure of the air supply and the piston area are the two main factors to affect the force. Greater the force, Greater the area. You can also use the online calculator to find force or you can calculate it by yourself in a few steps. One wouldn’t start to begin the practical usage of these cylinders, sans knowing their calculations.