Compact cylinders are key components for a wide range of short stroke applications - available in a wide range of styles, sizes and mounting options. Due to their popularity, there are many seemingly similar products vying for your attention.
This can be a problem. How do you choose the best cylinder for your application when the cylinders have similar features, including the same dimensions? The answer is that you evaluate potential cylinders based on the following key factors:
- Style and configuration. The first thing you should do when looking for a compact cylinder is to determine the style and configuration that best suits your application. Compact cylinders are available in a variety of shapes, usually square bodies for metric manufacturers and round bodies for predominantly imperial systems. They can be double-acting, perfect for push and pull tasks, or single-acting when you only need force in one direction or have an unloaded return stroke. Single rod configurations are usually standard, but there are also hollow rod options for blowout applications, as well as double rod configurations for situations where equal displacement is required on both sides of the piston.
- Size Requirements. Because they are used in tight or limited spaces, there is no room for error when selecting the size of a compact cylinder. For most pneumatic applications, standard bores for compact actuators range between 0.5 inches and 4 inches, usually with a maximum stroke of 4 inches.
- Materials and internal design features. When evaluating compact cylinders, look at the internal construction. Some manufacturers' design choices focus on reducing cost, but ultimately have a negative impact on cylinder performance. For example, many cylinders incorporate stainless steel cylinder walls that are prone to wear or use mirror-polished bores, which make lubrication difficult. In contrast, compact cylinders that use composite cylinder barrels produce smooth, self-lubricating interior surfaces for long-lasting performance.
- Bearings.The better the bearings, the longer the cylinder will last. When choosing the right compact cylinder, look for quality rod bearing materials. It's best to avoid bearings that may cause a reduction in load capacity. For example, many cylinders on the market use oil-impregnated bronze bushings that tend to pull out under lateral loads. The best bearings are those that increase your load capacity, such as composite bearings that increase load capacity while also being resistant to heat and corrosion.