PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS
A QUALITY FIRST APPROACH TO CYLINDERS
When it comes to pneumatic cylinders, why and when does quality matter? Mike Bacon, Internal Technical Applications Engineer at Matara, provides the answer...
O
ver the years, a wide array of pneumatic cylinders have been developed to meet specific needs but, as with all mechanical devices, quality differs between types of cylinders and between manufacturers.
Whilst I’d like to say that quality always matters, the reality is that quality matters more in certain applications. When it comes to miniature ‘brown’ cylinders, typically used in moving items off a conveyor belt for example, they are so low cost and easy to replace that investing in better quality versions doesn’t make for a good ROI. Where quality most certainly does matter is when it comes to the bigger cylinders - 125, 100, 6200 bore cylinders – which are lifting heavy weights. Replacing one of these is costly and rarely quick, as they generally aren’t stock items. At Matara, we have a large UK based machine shop and are able to build many pneumatic cylinders in-house, which means we can frequently deliver a replacement cylinder in two to three days, but that isn’t the case for all suppliers. Time is also required for the on-site engineers to fit the replacement, which will take several hours, not minutes. All of this time is clearly disrupting the process at hand. That’s why you really want
these larger cylinders to be reliable, repairable (where possible) and long lasting. What constitutes quality in a pneumatic cylinder? The quality of a pneumatic cylinder
not quite line up. But there are other important aspects to consider when assessing the quality of a
pneumatic cylinder. The first of these
is the materials used in their construction. Aluminium, steel and stainless steel are essential. When it comes to the rods, chromed rods are ideal if the cylinder will be lifting heavy
weights as these are far less prone to breaking. The seals are the items that are most likely to go wrong on a cylinder as they can be easily damaged, especially in a dirty, dusty site. So in harsher environments, it pays to invest in better quality seals. In food environments, for example, corrosive resistant stainless steel seals would be a good option, but there are also PTF, PTFE and wiper seals.
can often be gleaned by just looking at them. Poor
quality cylinders typically will have gaps, such as around the seals, and they may
To ensure you end up with a pneumatic cylinder that meets the demands of your site and application, its important that the manufacturer is able to offer a range of accessories. These include external accessories, such as mountings and crevices, and accessories fitted within the cylinder itself, including scrapers and bellows to protect the rod from dust and debris. Not every manufacturer will have a comprehensive range of accessories, but the better known,
34 DECEMBER 2024/JANUARY 2025 | PROCESS & CONTROL
better quality ones will. At Matara, we produce a range of accessories including clevises such as male/female, rear and offset variations, as well as flange mounts, flow controllers, foot brackets, and reed switchers. No matter how good quality the pneumatic cylinder, regular maintenance will help reduce unexpected downtime. This will generally involve checking the cylinder, tube, and rod seal for damage and applying lubricant where necessary. As the seals are most prone to damage, pay particular attention to these and replace where necessary. Matara supplies seal kits which make this process very straightforward. Keeping the pneumatic cylinder clean also pays dividends. In particularly dusty environments it’s worth considering an easy clean cylinder where the surfaces are smoother all around, so they don't collect dust and debris in the first place and can be easily cleaned. Tie rod cylinders are also slightly easier to clean as well.
Ultimately, the nature of the site and the cost implications of repairing or replacing a pneumatic cylinder are the determining factors in just how much you are willing to invest in them. If it’s a hostile environment or one where hygiene is paramount, such as food or pharmaceutical, then quality really does matter. Choose well and your pneumatic cylinder should perform reliably and consistently for a long time. We were asked to replace a Matara cylinder recently that had been fully operational for over 13 years. Which just goes to show that quality counts! Matara is a linear motion, automation and pneumatic component specialist. For more information visit the website below.
Matara
www.matara.com
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