Hydraulic cylinders are used to extend and retract a rod using pressurized hydraulic fluids. With a variety of attachments that can be added to the rod end, this allows for automated movement of any attached workpiece.
The Benefits of Hydraulic Cylinders
Hydraulic cylinders offer more control and power over pneumatic cylinders. Unlike air, hydraulic fluids are incompressible, meaning that you can directly control the speed and position of a hydraulic cylinder by metering the fluid. The hydraulic fluid also transfers power directly to the cylinder, instead of potentially compressing the air used to power a pneumatic cylinder. Also, fluids are less prone to leaking than gases.
Hydraulic Cylinder Selection
The most important specifications are the stroke and bore of the cylinder. The stroke, of course, identifies how far the piston moves from fully retracted to fully extended. The bore determines the diameter of the inside of the cylinder, where the hydraulic fluid is used to move the rod. This in turn determines how much force the cylinder can exert, as well as the fluid volume to stroke speed ratio.
Another important factor is the seal material. Some hydraulic oils can degrade certain seal materials, so it is important to check the environment the cylinder will be used in and select the material accordingly. Similarly, many cylinders offer alternate stainless-steel components to help resist environmental corrosion.
A further consideration is the type of cushion that is used in the cylinder. When the rod fully extends or retracts at speed, the sudden stop can jolt the cylinder and any attached work piece, which could cause damage. Many cylinders offer rubber cushions to help dampen this force, but some also use air cushions. By causing the cylinder to compress a pocket of air, an air cushion will exhaust that compressed air through a throttle, allowing for greater and gentler deceleration.
New Product Alert: Parker Gen II Hydraulic Cylinders
Parker’s Gen II heavy duty industrial tie rod hydraulic cylinders are designed for heavy duty applications and high performance over a long service life.
They have thick body walls which allows them to withstand higher pressures. The threaded Jewel gland design prevents the leakage of hydraulic fluids by using redundant layers of different types of seals. For easier interchangeability, these cylinders meet NFPA mounting dimension standards.
MISUMI’s Wide Variety of Hydraulic Cylinders
MISUMI offers a highly configurable selection of hydraulic cylinders to purchase. With a variety of different bores, strokes, sealing materials and port types, you can find whatever cylinder you need for the job at hand.
