Image courtesy of Festo
The biggest change pneumatic cylinders have seen in the past couple of years has been environment-driven. Engineers are requiring better performance from their cylinders and they’re requiring it in much more demanding applications. These environments include, but are not limited to, medical, hydroforming, foundries, food processing and packaging and others. These demanding environments are pushing the limits of the materials and speeds of cylinders, and we are seeing new seal compounds being used to overcome those problem areas.
“Once you add the speed and force requirements on top of the environment concerns, the challenge becomes putting together the correct combination. Demanding applications require high speed, low friction seals and long life. One or two of these would be easy; however, all three make it a constant challenge,” said John Ross, AVP of Segment Management, PHD Inc. The newest pneumatic cylinders have a wide range of specifications and features to address specific issues. Here is what you need to know.
ISO configurations
The Numatics 449 Series has Reed-switch type or magneto-resistive type (MR) installation into the T-slot grooves. The cylinder also has a self-lubricating bearing and a non-abrasive scraper seal.
The Numatics 449 Series compact tube cylinder, 450 Series heavy-duty tie rod cylinder, and the 453 Series hygienic tube cylinders are all available in a variety of ISO configurations. The 449 Series Cylinder is an ISO 21287, single-acting, single-rod non-rotating cylinder with a short profile tube design and a wide choice of standard mountings and rod ends. The 450 Series is an ISO 15552, square tie rod designed for low friction and easy maintenance. This cylinder has a self-lubricating bearing, non-abrasive wiper seal, a permanent magnet and either a REED switch or Hall effect sensor for position sensing. The 453 Series has a profile tube design suitable for packaging and clean aesthetic requirements with a full range of options. With one “clean” side with no retention areas, this improved design has no tie rods, resulting in a lighter cylinder.
NFPA interchangeable cylinder
Fabco-Air’s new OEM NFPA cylinders have stainless steel tie-rods incorporated into the cylinder construction as well as anodized end caps.
Fabco-Air’s OEM NFPA Cylinder line is a repairable NFPA interchangeable cylinder line that is specifically designed to give users an economical cylinder option. The cylinders come with magnetic pistons for position sensing. Adjustable cushions are included at both ends of the cylinders as well. Stainless steel tie-rods are incorporated into the cylinder construction as well as anodized end caps.
Each cylinder includes both bottom tapped and end-cap sleeve nut mounting configurations. NFPA mounting is made easy by simply adding one of the detachable NFPA mounts that is offered with the standard cylinder.
Aventics’ NFPA cylinders include PowerMaster pneumatic (pressure to 250 psi) and medium-pressure hydraulic cylinders (pressure to 1500 psi), plus PressureMaster high-pressure hydraulic cylinders (up to 3000 psi, 5000 non-shock). Bore sizes are 1-1/2 to 14-in., with some limitations on 14-in. PressureMaster. Over 20 NFPA standard precision machined mounting styles are available, with many options for piston rods, rod threads, ports, seals, stop tubes and limit switches. Aventics NFPA cylinders can interchange with other manufacturers’ NFPA cylinders. An online configurator is available for configuring a customer cylinder and provides a part number and CAD files.
The DRRD from Festo offers high load capacity at torques from 0.2 to 112 Nm and a maximum mass moment of inertia of up to 420,000 kgcm2.
Field-repairable options
To provide an alternative to its “built-to-order” product line, PHD Inc. released a new metric design of its Optimax Series OCG round body pneumatic cylinder. These actuators are designed to be more versatile and economical for use in the machine builders’ market. The actuator’s features include: imperial and new metric designs,
Field repairability, six bore sizes with 10 stroke lengths, drop-in mounting to match global standards, standard cushions to reduce end of travel impact and magnets that come standard for switch sensing capability.
Twin-piston semi-rotary drives
The DRRD from Festo offers high load capacity at torques from 0.2 to 112 Nm and a maximum mass moment of inertia of up to 420,000 kg/cm2. The DRRD’s high load capacity and mass moment of inertia enables smaller sizes
PHD’s Optimax Series OCG features imperial and new metric designs, field repairability, six bore sizes with 10 stroke lengths and drop-in mounting.
of this semi-rotary drive to be used without sacrificing power, which reduces cost and saves space in handling and assembly technology or in machine building. The optimized housing and piston drive design of the DRRD can also handle harsh industrial conditions.
As an added feature, size 16 and above of the DRRD series can be equipped with an end-position lock for mechanical locking in the end or mid-position. Other series options include: a fully sealed variant for wet or dusty environments, an external position sensing version with sensor mounting, an immediate position model and one external and two internal cushioning types. An energy through-feed model also provides fast and easy supply of electrical signals or compressed air transferred through a hollow shaft.
The semi-rotary drive DRRD operates on a rack and pinion principle with high accuracy in the end positions. It has high bearing load capacity and the splash proof design meets IP65 and EN 60529 standards.
Stainless steel pneumatic air cylinders
AutomationDirect’s NITRA pneumatic product line now includes F-Series all stainless steel air cylinders for wash down applications. These non-repairable round body pneumatic air cylinders are interchangeable with other popular brands. The double-acting cylinders have a 250 psi operating pressure and are constructed with corrosion resistant 300 series stainless steel and Teflon-based rod and pivot bushings. The Urethane rod wiper keeps wash down solutions out of the cylinder.
Aventics’ PowerMaster pneumatic NFPA cylinders (pressure to 250 psi) can interchange with other manufacturers’ NFPA cylinders. An online configurator is also available for configuring a customer cylinder and provides a part number and CAD files.
The series includes bore sizes from ¾-in. to two inches and stroke lengths from ½-in. to 18 inches to meet a broad range of applications. Models feature nose, rear pivot, and double-end mounting options and models are available with magnetic piston for position indication.
The company has also added accessories to help with control. According to Pat Phillips, Product Manager of Fluid Power and Mechanical Products at AutomationDirect.com, “The use of miniature inline pressure regulators, with built in relief, provides easily installed cylinder force control. The flow control, pressure indicator and inline hand valves are an inexpensive option for speed control, air status, quick exhaust and isolation of an air cylinder. These devices can control, tune, indicate, and isolate pneumatic cylinders.”
Filed Under: Cylinders & Actuators
