Intro to Pneumatic Cylinders: How Pneumatic Cylinders Work

At Matara, we stock a huge range of pneumatic cylinders. Find out how pneumatic cylinders work and can benefit your application. Explore our range of pneumatic components and find out all you need to know about pneumatic cylinders.

Pneumatic cylinders are popular thanks to their ability to move large and heavy loads at a range of speeds efficiently and cost-effectively in difficult environments. They are simple, cost-effective, and easy to maintain. Look here at some of the types of pneumatic cylinders and how they compare.

What is a pneumatic cylinder?

Pneumatic cylinders are used in a wide range of industries to produce force and motion that move loads by pulling, pushing, lowering, lifting, and rotating. They operate using compressed gas that is forced into the cylinder at one end of a piston, in turn displacing the piston and creating linear movement.

With there being many different types of pneumatic cylinders, you may not know which is best for you. Thankfully, we have an easy guide to help you decide how to choose the correct pneumatic cylinder for your application.

Types of pneumatic cylinder

There are two main types of pneumatic cylinders; conventional and rodless pneumatic cylinders which both offer different types of movement and are applicable in different applications.

Conventional pneumatic cylinders

Conventional pneumatic cylinders are available with two key types of movement: single-acting and double-acting. Single-acting pneumatic cylinders have a port at one end of the piston and use air pressure to extend the piston rod forward from the casing, subsequently returning to its resting position through either an internal spring or through the weight of the load itself. There is a second port at the other end of the cylinder to enable the air to escape (usually to the atmosphere).

A double-acting pneumatic cylinder has an air port at both ends and therefore uses compressed air in both directions; this allows it to move loads back and forth with ease. In conventional pneumatic cylinders, where the load is carried or moved through the extension of the piston rod, the stroke length is restricted to the length of the cylinder itself, and there is a risk of buckling, particularly where there is a long distance to travel with a heavy load. However, they are ideal for short distances, small movements and working in extreme environments where sealing against contaminated or dusty air is a requirement.

Matara works closely with Mindman, which has a reputation for high-quality automation products, including pneumatic cylinders. The Mindman pneumatic cylinder range that we stock includes:

• Standard Mindman pneumatic cylinders
• Compact Mindman pneumatic cylinders
• Roundline Mindman pneumatic cylinders

Rodless pneumatic cylinders

Rodless cylinders are used in applications where long strokes or the capacity for high-moment loads are required. The design of the rodless pneumatic cylinder is a space-saving solution because the stroke is contained within the overall design of the cylinder.

Rodless pneumatic cylinders are ideal for applications where either the torque or the turning moment is likely to cause the buckling of a piston within a traditional rod cylinder design. This is more common where a long stroke length is required. Rodless solutions are also the preferred choice where speed is critical because loads can be carried across longer distances in less time. If you are considering a rodless cylinder, it is essential to calculate the load, distance, and speed, considering the dynamic forces involved, so the cylinder isn’t performing at its limit.

Matara’s range of rodless pneumatic cylinders includes:

• Thanks to the PMI linear rail, the PLG series is ideal for high static and dynamic loading in all directions. 
• The PLG-140 series is designed with an added air failsafe for braking. 
• Due to its magnetic transit design, the MCRPM series offers 50% space saving. 

The disadvantage of rodless pneumatic cylinders is that they are not well suited to environments with a lot of dust and debris due to their sealing requirements. Load movement is fixed to the length of the cylinder, which isn’t always practical, and the inner and outer bands can wear over time, leading to a loss of air pressure.

Finding the perfect pneumatic cylinder

There are several areas that you should consider when selecting a pneumatic cylinder for an application, including:

• How much load will the actuator need to carry/move? This helps to determine both the operating air pressure and the cylinder’s bore size.
• How fast the cylinder’s action needs to be. The speed of a pneumatic cylinder is influenced by the length of the rod, the port sizes, the inlet, and the exhaust flow through its control valves. 
• The operating environment. This will help you to assess the materials that the pneumatic cylinder and its components need to be made of. 
• The required operational lifespan. This will be impacted by the number of cycles expected over a given period and the loads that it will be required to move; this then determines the construction and type of equipment selected.

Having the correct pneumatic cylinder is key to ensuring your system runs correctly. At Matara, we stock only the best pneumatic accessories to ensure that you receive the highest quality equipment every time you order through us.

Understanding how pneumatic cylinders work for your application

There are several areas that you should consider when selecting a pneumatic cylinder for an application, including the following:

How much load will the actuator need to carry/move?

Knowing how much load your actuator will need to carry helps us determine the operating air pressure and the cylinder’s bore size to fit your application’s needs. 

How fast does the cylinder’s action need to be?

The speed of a pneumatic cylinder is influenced by the length of the rod, the port sizes, the inlet, and the exhaust flow through its control valves.

The operating environment

The operating environment that your pneumatic cylinder is in will help you to assess the materials that the pneumatic cylinder and its components need to be made of.

Required operational lifespan

The required operational lifespan will be impacted by the number of cycles expected over a given period and the loads that it will be required to move; this then determines the construction and type of equipment selected.

Having the correct pneumatic cylinder is key to ensuring your system runs correctly. At Matara, we stock only the best pneumatic equipment to ensure that you receive the highest-quality equipment every time you order through us.

Pneumatic cylinder solutions here at Matara

At Matara UK, you can find our Technical Hub, which is filled with helpful information to help you learn more about our range of pneumatic cylinders along with all of the other products we manufacture at Matara, such as pneumatic fittings and solenoid valves.

Speak with a qualified expert at Matara about pneumatic cylinders and how they will benefit your business. Be sure to contact us and a member of our team will be happy to help.