Different Types of the Pneumatic Cylinder

A pneumatic cylinder is a type of appliance that makes the use of power that is generated from
compacted gas in order to form a force in interchanging linear motion. A pneumatic cylinder may also
be referred to as an air cylinder, as the term pneuma, means air. Very similar to hydraulic cylinders, a
force is applied into the piston, which pushes it to the desired direction. The piston that is part of a
pneumatic cylinder is a disc or a cylinder. The force that is created is transported by the piston rod to
the object that requires moving. A minority of engineers prefer this device due to its cleanness,
quietness, and minimum space for storing fluids.

Purpose and Type

The shape, material, and size of the cylinders depend on the purpose one is using them. The different
materials that are used for pneumatic cylinders include stainless steel, steel, nickel-plated brass, and
aluminum. The way the materials are chose for the devices involve considering several factors such as
amount of loads, specific stroke length, temperature, and humidity. The devices also come in a wide
range of body constructions, which include:

Flanged- type cylinders the ends of these cylinders feature fixed flanges.

Tie rod cylinders these are the most common type of cylinder structure and find their use in a
huge variety of loads. These are also proven the safest form to work with.

Threaded end cylinders in these, the ends tend to attached to the tube body.

One-piece welded cylinders the ends of these cylinders are welded or crimped to the tube.

A Further Look into the Types

The three pneumatic cylinders we discuss below are:

Single-acting cylinders

Double-acting cylinders

Telescoping cylinders

Single-acting cylinders (SAC) use pressure that forms from compacted air. In majority of cases, the
extension SAC cylinders have is very limited due to the amount of space the compacted spring takes.

Double-acting cylinders (DAC) use air pressure in order to retract strokes and move in range. Two parts
make up this cylinder, both of which let the air in. One is for outstroke and the other, in-stroke.

Telescoping cylinders, also known as telescopic cylinders come in single-acting and double-acting
modes. Their designs allow for much longer strokes and tend to be reserved for uses where the piston
has to face minimal side loading.
SINGLE, DOUBLE, AND REVERSE ACTING

Cylinders are available in double acting, single acting, and reverse acting. The most
common are double acting and then single acting. Reverse-acting are rarely used.

Single Acting

Single acting cylinders provide

power only on the extension or
"push" stroke. A separate force,
usually an internal spring, returns
the piston to its original position in
preparation for the next stroke.

An internal
spring retracts
the piston rod The piston rod
when the blind is extended by
end of the air pressure.
cylinder is
exhausted.

Double Acting

Double acting cylinders have dual

pressure chambers and provide
pneumatic power on both extension
and retraction, eliminating the need
for a spring.

The piston rod The piston rod

retracts when is extended by
air pressure is directing air
directed to the pressure to the
rod end of the blind end of the
cylinder. cylinder.

Reverse Acting

Reverse single acting designs are

similar to single acting, but with the
port on the opposite end to provide
power only on the retraction or
"pull" stroke.

Internal springs
The piston rod
hold the piston
retracts when
rod in the
air pressure is
extended
applied.
position.

Cylinder types

The range of pneumatic cylinders is divided into the following types.

Cylinders with piston rod

Rodless cylinders (linear drives)

Swivel cylinders

Tandem and multi-position cylinders

Stopper cylinders

Clamping cylinders

Drives with linear guide

 Bellows and diaphragm cylinders

Cylinders with piston rod

Basically, cylinders with piston rods can be divided according to two different functions.

Single-acting cylinders

Double-acting cylinders

Single-acting cylinders

Single-acting cylinders

These cylinders have only one compressed air connection. The incoming compressed air moves the piston in
one direction, and the cylinder force is built up in this direction. If the piston needs to return to its initial position,
the air is simply expelled from the cylinder.
The mechanical spring pushes the piston back to its initial position. This part has a ventilation/exhaust hole so
that no excess or low pressure is generated through the piston movement in the second cylinder chamber.
Advantages:

Defined position in the event of a power failure

Reduced air consumption

 Easy actuation via 3/2-way valve

Disadvantages:

Cylinder has a longer construction length

Spring-dependent stroke length limits the maximum stroke length

Force is only built up in one direction

Force is reduced by the spring force

No constant force (stroke-dependent)

Double-acting cylinders

Double-acting cylinder - retracted Double-acting cylinder - advanced

The double-acting cylinder requires compressed air for every direction of movement. On this type of cylinder,
the force both both the advancing and retracting direction is built up using compressed air. The simplest way of
actuating a double-acting cylinder is by using a 5/2-way valve.
Advantages:
 Force builds up in both directions of movement

Constant force (dependent on stroke)

Strokes of several metres are possible

Disadvantages:

Every movement uses compressed air

No defined position in the event of compressed air failure

Design of a cylinder with piston rod

A standard pneumatic cylinder consists of five modules/parts.

Cylinder barrel

Bearing cap

End cap

Piston

Piston rod
Of course, that's usually not everything that makes up a cylinder. There are also various smaller components
such as seals, bearings, guiding band, permanent magnets, etc. But these parts are all included in the above-
mentioned five parts which make up a standard cylinder (cylinder with single-ended piston rod).

Cylinder barrels

Originally, these really were "just" tubes. However, nowadays extruded profiles instead of a tube are used for
most cylinders. The advantage is that a profile can also be used for additional functions.

Mounting the sensors

Mounting option for attachment parts

One-sided pressurisation of double-acting cylinders

Piston rods

The piston rod is the part which transmits the force and the movement of the cylinder to the outside. The tip of
the piston rod generally has a thread so that other customer components can be attached to it.

Pistons

The piston, which is connected to the piston rod, carries out the actual movement in the cylinder.
However, the piston needs to do more than just carry out a movement. It forms a seal between the front and
rear cylinder chamber. In addition, the piston has to convert the kinetic residual energy in the end position. The
bearing and end caps also have their part to play.

Bearing caps
The bearing cap closes the cylinder (cylinder barrel) on one side and at the same time forms a bearing and
sealing point for the piston rod. One of the air connections is generally located in the bearing cap.

End caps

The end cap closes the cylinder (cylinder barrel) on the other side. The second air connection is usually located
in the end cap.

Rodless cylinders
"Rodless cylinders" are usually cylinders which have no piston rod and which carry out a linear motion.
Although pneumatic rotary drives don't have a piston rod either, and, strictly speaking, are also rodless
cylinders, they are classified as rotary drives and will be looked at separately.
Rodless cylinders are also defined as linear drives.
Rodless cylinders can be found on the market in various designs, as simple drives and as drives with
integrated guides.
Thanks to this additional, external guide (as a plain-bearing or roller bearing), it is possible to load the slide with
lateral forces and torques.
Tools or other drives can be mounted directly on the slide.
This makes it relatively easy to build, for example, multi-axis systems for part handling.

Rodless cylinders have two different functional principles

Mechanically coupled slide

Magnetically coupled slide

Mechanically coupled slides

The piston is moved in the cylinder barrel using compressed air. The cylinder barrel is open on one side across
its entire length, so that a mechanical connection can be established between the piston and slide. A sealing
strip is clamped over the entire length to seal this open side. It is fed through the top side of the piston to
ensure that there is a tight seal between the piston and slide, despite the mechanical connection. To protect the
sealing strip from mechanical influences and dirt, a thin metal cover band is clamped parallel to it on some
cylinder types. After applying pressure, the sealing band is pressed against the housing so that it is completely
tight.

Direction of movement of the slide to the right Direction of movement of the

slide to the left

The air is supplied from one side for both directions of movement. The air is also fed to the opposite side
through a duct along the housing.
Magnetically coupled slides

In this design, the piston moves in a completely enclosed, thin steel pipe. That is also one of the main
advantages of this design. After all, with this system, which has practically zero leakage, the drive is also
suitable for use under clean room conditions.
The piston and slide are connected using permanent magnets.
They are partially integrated in the slide and partially in the piston. Their north/south alignment is parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the drive. The magnetic coupling is also a force limiter. If the slide can no longer be moved
by external forces, the piston can release itself from the magnetic field and continue to move by itself. Like
other cylinders, this drive has built-in magnets for sensing the end positions using proximity sensors. These
magnets are located in the slide, and not on the piston.