Resources
Episode# 66: What is a Pneumatic Actuator?
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If you have any questions or are just looking for some help, we're happy to discuss your application with you. Reach out to us at (855) 737-4716 or fill out our online form.
The Motion Control Show
What is a pneumatic actuator?- How does a pneumatic actuator move?
- Has a body with a piston in it
- The extended pressure comes in
- It moves the piston out
- Extends the rod
- Then it exhausts the air that is in there
- Moves backwards in the same way
- Retract pressure going in
- It retracts
- The retract exhaust air is pushed out
- The force that it creates extending out
- Created by the pressure going in times the area of the piston
- Force equals the pressure times the area
- “Bore” is the cavity inside the body of the actuator
- The retract force is very similar, except there's one major difference
- Not pushing back on the piston rod
- Area is actually the bore size minus that piston rod
- Retract force is less than the extend force
- Created by the pressure going in times the area of the piston
- Types of Actuation
- Double acting
- Takes air to push it out and air to push it back
- Single acting
- Air to push it out, spring to return it
- Spring to push it out, air to return it
- Double acting
- Actuator Types
- Rod Type
- Rod-less Type
- Other Actuator Types
- Rotary
- Rack and pinion
- Vane style
- Grippers
- Solution that includes tooling jaws or fingers that grasp an object
- Most popular types
- Two jaw parallel
- Two jaw angular
- Rotary
- Construction types
- ISO
- Standardized dimensions and the mounting interfaces
- Standards for piston rod cylinders
- If an existing ISO cylinder is in an application
- Another brand will replace it
- ISO
- NFPA
- Available in many types
- Aluminum
- Stainless steel
- Steel
- Constructed with end caps
- Square and held together with four tie rods
- Standard mounting dimensions for each of the various mounting styles
- Flexibility to obtain anywhere in the world
- Available in many types
- System components
- Provide air flow
- Compressor
- Control the air to the actuators
- Make sure the air is clean: “air prep”
- Filter
- Regulate
- Lubricate
- Provide air flow
- Pros of a pneumatic actuator
- Intrinsically safe
- Easy maintenance and simple
- Inexpensive
- Easy to buy and try
- Fast with high cycle times
- Low operating cost
- Cons of a pneumatic cylinder
- Wear out resulting in short life cycles
- Air quality maintenance
- Air comes with a price
- CO2 emissions
- Low efficiency & leaks
- Low accuracy
- Limited cylinder positions
If you have any questions or are just looking for some help, we're happy to discuss your application with you. Reach out to us at (855) 737-4716 or fill out our online form.
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