Episode# 66: What is a Pneumatic Actuator?

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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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • System components
  • 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.