I.

Introduction

II. Objectives
After conducting this activity, the students are expected to comply with the following
objectives:
1.) To be familiar on pneumatic diagram construction with reference to specific
condition.
2.) To perform analysis on pneumatic problems and be able to come up with a design/
solution to certain situations.

III. Components

IV. Procedure
The following procedure is implemented during the construction and simulation of the
circuit for every situation given in the activity.

1. A Single-Acting Cylinder is to extend and clamp a component when a normally-closed

manually operated, 3/2 pushbutton directional control valve is pressed. As long as the
push button is pressed, the cylinder is to remain in the extended position. Once the
pushbutton is released, the cylinder is to return to the retracted position.

2. A single-acting cylinder is to extend immediately once air is applied to the circuit. Once a
push button is pressed, the cylinder is to retract. As long as the push button is pressed, the
cylinder is to remain in the retracted position. Once the pushbutton is released, the
cylinder is to return to the extended position.
3. A double-acting cylinder is to extend when push button 1 is pressed, the cylinder is to
remain in the extended position until push button 2 is pressed. Once push button 2 is
pressed, the cylinder is to retract.
4. A safety circuit is needed for a press machine. Operation of the press can only take place
if the operator is pressing both push buttons at the same time. This will ensure that the
operator’s hand is away from the press mechanism. The press machine is to extend when
both push buttons are pressed, and retract if any or both are released.
5. A double-acting cylinder is to be operated by 3/2 manually operated push button
directional control valves. This is identical to Situation 3, except the circuit is to
incorporate independent speed control on only the retract stroke. The cylinder should
extend quickly, and retract slowly.
6. A double-acting cylinder is to extend when push button 1 is pressed, the cylinder is to
remain in the extended position until push button 2 is pressed. Once push button 2 is
pressed, the cylinder is to retract. However, when either of the pushbuttons are pressed,
the double-acting cylinder will remain extended or retracted, and the 5/2 way DCV will
ensure that pressure Is constantly applied to the cylinder to keep it that position.
7. Using a 3/2 way pushbutton and a 5/2 way pneumatically operated, spring return DCV
and a double acting cylinder, provide a delay on signal circuit in which you press and
hold the 3/2 start signal pushbutton, and after some time, the 5/2 way DCV changes state
and causes the double-acting cylinder to extend. As soon as the pushbutton is released,
the double-acting cylinder is to retract immediately.
Procedure for construction and simulation of the circuit for situation #7.
7.1 Circuit Construction
1. In the fluidSIM-P, drag the necessary components for the construction of the circuit.
2. First, drag the most important components to run the circuit, which is the compressed
air supply and put it at the bottom part of the layout display. Pneumatics system
won’t run without this component. It is known as the heart of the system.

3. Drag the 3/2 way directional control valve . By double clicking the component,
the configuration changer will display. You can now, put a manual pushbutton
and spring return as stated in the problem. Your 3/2 way directional

control valve should look like this .

4. To provide a delay ON signal to the circuit, a one way flow control valve is
needed. Drag the component and place it to the upper position of the 3/2 way DCV.

5. Drag the 5/2 way DCV to the layout display and place it to the upper right
of the flow control valve. As stated in the problem, the 5/2 way DCV should changes
state and cause the cylinder to extend or retract. To do this, change the configuration
by double clicking the component and make the left port pneumatically/electrically
operated and put a spring on the right port. The DCV should look like this

6. An air pressure reservoir is also needed in this problem. This can also caused the
delay signal for the cylinder to extend. Put it between the flow control valve and 5/2
way DCV.

7. Last component needed is the cylinder. Drag the double acting cylinder
and put it to the upper most part of the layout. This considered as the power level.
8. The layout should now look like the figure 4.7.1

Figure 4.7.1 Components needed.

9. After dragging all the components, we need to

connect each component based on the required
output of the circuit. Connect the compressed air
supply to the air input (1) of the 3/2 way DCV
and air inlet (1) of the 5/2 way DCV. Put
terminator at the air exhaust of the 3/2 way
 DCV. Connect the air outlet of 3/2 way DCV to the flow control valve the connect it
to the air pressure reservoir then to the pneumatically/electrically actuation of 5/2 way
DCV. Now put terminator to the port 3 and 5 of 5/2 way DCV. We can now connect
the double acting cylinder to the 5/2 way DCV. The layout should now look like the
circuit in figure 4.7.2.
Figure 4.7.2 Circuit for situation
#7.
7.2 Simulation of the Circuit.
1. As stated in the problem, press and hold the pushbutton for a certain time and the
cylinder should extend later on.
2. Release the pushbutton and the cylinder should retract immediately.

V. Data and Result

The data and result for this activity is discussed below.
1. A Single-Acting Cylinder is to extend and clamp a component when a normally-closed
manually operated, 3/2 pushbutton directional control valve is pressed. As long as the push
button is pressed, the cylinder is to remain in the extended position. Once the pushbutton is
released, the cylinder is to return to the retracted position.
 During the circuit construction for situation
#1, the group come up with the circuit shown in
figure 1.1. It shows that a signal input level,
which is the DCV and compressed air supply, is
placed under the power level which is the
Single acting cylinder. A spring return single
acting cylinder and a normally closed, manual
operated push button, 3/2-way directional
control valve is used.
Figure 1.1 Circuit Diagram for Situation #1

In figure 1.2, the manual pushbutton is

pressed. As expected, the piston rod of the
cylinder extended. Once the switch is pressed,
the DCV’s position will move and this allows
the air pressure flows from the air supply unit
and enters to the rear cylinder cavity. That
caused the piston rod to extend.

Figure 1.2 Manual Pushbutton is pressed

Figure 1.3 shows that the piston rod of the

cylinder returned to its position because the
push button is released. The DCV returned
to its normal position and cause the cylider
to retract because the air is released to the
exhaust part of the valve.

Figure 1.3 Manual Pushbutton is released.

The circuit is constructed correctly at first trial based on the situation #1 requirements.
The piston rod extended at first pushbutton press and returned as the pushbutton is released.

2. A single-acting cylinder is to extend immediately once air is applied to the circuit. Once a
push button is pressed, the cylinder is to retract. As long as the push button is pressed, the
cylinder is to remain in the retracted position. Once the pushbutton is released, the cylinder is
to return to the extended position.
 Figure 2.1 shows the cicuit diagram created by the group based on the given situation. As
you can see, it is almost identical to the circcuit diagram of situation #1. The difference is
that the compressed air supply is connected to the exhaust port.

Figure 2.1 Circuit Diagram of Situation #2

In figure 2.2, it shows that at start of the

simulation, the piston rod of the cylinder
extended immediately even the pushbutton is
not yet pressed. This happen because the air
supply is connected to the exhaust at its
normal position. The compressed air supply
freely flows and enters to the cylinder.

Figure 2.2 The simulation starts.

Manual pushbutton is now pressed as shown in

figure 3.2. The piston rod retracted because the
position of the 3/2-way directional control valve
moved and the air from the cylinder is now
connected to the exhaust port of the valve. The
dark blue line is the air supply while the sky blue
line shows that the air is being exhausted.

Figure
2.3
The Manual pushbutton is released.

The group successfully created the required circuit at first trial. The conditions for
situation #2 is satisfied. The piston rod extended immediately at start of the simulation. The
air flows to the cylinder. When the pushbutton is pressed, the piston rod retracted.

3. A double-acting cylinder is to extend when push button 1 is pressed, the cylinder is to remain
in the extended position until push button 2 is pressed. Once push button 2 is pressed, the
cylinder is to retract.

As we are conducting the activity, the group

come up with the circuit shown in figure
3.1. Two 3/2 way DCV and double acting
cylinder is used as stated in the problem.
 The group used a pneumaticall actuated, spring returned, 5/2 way DCV to satify the situation
where the pushbutton 1 is pressed, the piston rod must extend and once the pushbutton 2 is
pressed, the piston rod must return.
Figure 3.1 Circuit Diagram for Situation #3

In figure 3.2, pushbutton 1 is pressed. As expected, the piston rod extended and remain
extended because the pushbutton used is not
spring returned. Since the pneumatic
actuation of 5/2 wa DCV is connected at
pushbutton 2, its position remained at its
normal. The dark blue lines shows that the
compressed air freely flows up to the air
inlet if the cylinder and causes it to extend
the piston rod.

Figure 3.2 Pushbutton 1 is pressed.

For figure 3.3, the pushbutton 2 is pressed. It

clearly shows that the piston rod of the double
acting cylinder retracted. Since 5/2 way DCV
is pneumatically actuated by the pushbutton 2,
its position moved. The air from the cylinder is
now exhausted as shown in the figure. The
dark blue line shows the air flow of the
compressed air while the light blue shows that
air is exhausted.
Figure 3.3 Pushbutton 2 is pressed.

Overall, the circuit is done based on the situation. The cylinder extended if push
button 1 is pressed and retracted if the pushbutton 2 is pressed.

4. A safety circuit is needed for a press machine. Operation of the press can only take place if
the operator is pressing both push buttons at the same time. This will ensure that the
operator’s hand is away from the press mechanism. The press machine is to extend when
both push buttons are pressed, and retract if any or both are released.

The circuit constracted by the group is shown in the figure

4.1. A manual operated push button, spring-returned, 3/2
way DCV and a spring-returned, single acting cylinder is
 used in this situation. The rereuirement is that, if both pushbutton is pressed, the cylinder
must extend and retract if any or both are released.

Figure 4.1 Ciruit Diagram for Situation #4

As both pushbutton is pressed, the cylinder extended.

Pressing of both button at the same time is not possible so
the group uses the pause function of simulation. Buth
button is pressed at its initial start and once the
simulation start, the cylinder extended but returned
again because the button must be spring-returned. The
result is shown in figure 4.2.

Figure 4.2 Both button is pressed.

The figure 4.3 shows the second condition of the for situation #4. As we released the
first button, the cylinder retracted, f the second button, the cylinder also retracted and if both
is released, the cylinder still retracted.

.
Figure 4.3 Pushbutton button 1 is released, push button 2 is released and both button is released.

For overall result, the circuit constructed as per requirement. The group meet the
stated condition where the cylinder must be extended if both push buttons are pressed, and
retract if any or both are released.

5. A double-acting cylinder is to be operated by 3/2 manually operated push button directional

control valves. This is identical to Situation 3, except the circuit is to incorporate independent
speed control on only the retract stroke. The cylinder should extend quickly, and retract
slowly.
6. A double-acting cylinder is to extend when push button 1 is pressed, the cylinder is to remain
in the extended position until push button 2 is pressed. Once push button 2 is pressed, the
cylinder is to retract. However, when either of the pushbuttons are pressed, the double-acting
cylinder will remain extended or retracted, and the 5/2 way DCV will ensure that pressure Is
constantly applied to the cylinder to keep it that position.
7. Using a 3/2 way pushbutton and a 5/2 way pneumatically operated, spring return DCV and a
double acting cylinder, provide a delay on signal circuit in which you press and hold the 3/2
start signal pushbutton, and after some time, the 5/2 way DCV changes state and causes the
double-acting cylinder to extend. As soon as the pushbutton is released, the double-acting
cylinder is to retract immediately.

VI. Conclusion
After performing this activity, each members of the group became familiar with
different kinds of pneumatic symbols and its operation. Components like compressor,
compressed air supply, directional control valves with its actuations, flow control valves and
cylinder are used to create the circuit. They were able to design their own pneumatic circuit
diagram based on a specific situation. With the different situation given in this activity, the
members were able to share ideas on how to come up with the design and reach the
requirements to each problem. Each problem has their own unique operation and application
that helped the students to understand more about pneumatic system. The simulator is a great
tool or platform for the students and instructors to perform the activity.