HELPFUL ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CYLINDERS; ADJUSTABLE STROKE Question: Is it posible to make the stroke ofa cylinder adjustable? Answer: Yes. Double-acting eyl- Piers (pages 10-23) may be oF- “ed with a common rod that pro- scides from both eylinder end ‘aps. A nut may be placed on one ODEO ‘od end to relain spacers that wall Timitthe stroke distance. Be sure to guard the spacer end because “pinch points” will be present. ‘Also, 1" bore single-acting cylinders with adjustable strokes are di cussed on page 24 CYLINDERS; AIR CONSUMPTION RATES Question: How do I caleulate the air consumption of a cylinder? Example: Determine the air consumption of a2” bore cylinder with a 4" stroke operating 30 complete cycles (out and back) per minute at 80 PST inlet pressure, Answer: 1 the area of the piston by converting the bore diameter into square inh 7 (zine)? state.) 23.14 min 2. Determine consumption per single stroke 8.14 sqin.x 4 inch stroke = 12.56 eu.in. 8, Determine consumption per complete cycle (Disregard displace- ‘ment of piston rod because itis generally not significant 12.56 ca.in. x2 = 25.12 exin, per cycle 4. Determine volume of 80 PSI si that is consumed per minute, 25.12.cu.in. x30 eyclewminute = 753.6 cx.in/min, of 80 PSI sir > Convert ewin. ocu.t. r 163.650%/nin Teg Sef «496 cu t/a {6 Convert air compressed to 80 PSI to “free” (uncompressed) air 0PSI + 14.7PS1 SORE SUA TPSI _ 644 times air i compressed when at 80 PSD 1. Determine cubic fet of free air used per minute. 46 cu.ft. x 644 compression ratio = 2.81 cu. offree air used ‘per minuto 8. So, the consumption rate of a2" bore, 4” stroke eylinder operating 30 complete cycles per minute at 80 PSI is 281 SCFM (Standard Cubic Feet Por Minute) of free air. “Standard” means air at a ‘temperature of 70°F and at soa level ‘Alo see questions regarding Cv (page 6) and cylinder size selection (age 5). CYLINDERS; CUSHIONING ‘Question: How do prevent a cylinder from impacting at the end of ite atroke? ‘Answer: Generally, itis best to order your cylin the piston rod Unroogh the lst 11/16” of stroke, The degree of cushioning may be adjusted by means of ‘a needle control in the eyinder head. See the Dyn ‘mation and HD Series cylinder sections on pages 10-21 for more information, Centaur cylinders on pages 22-2 ano extra charge. These bumpers _Atracacompletion. reall supplied with rubber bumpers inate the “clank that oceure at CYLINDERS; CUSHIONING, LOW COST Question: Is there alow cost alternative to cylinder cushioning? ‘Answer: All Centaur eylinders, pages 22-23, are supplied with bult- in rubber bumpers. CYLINDERS; DOUBLE-ACTING -VS- SINGLE-ACTING Question: What are the differences between double-acting and sin- alo-acting eylinders? ‘Answer: Double-acting cylinders provide power on both the “extend” land “retract” stroke. They require the use of « four-way directional control valve, Single-acting or spring return cylinders provide power only on the “purh” stroke, The piston rod ie returned by an internal spring. Sin- le-acting cylinders use about one-half ax much sir as double-ecting finders and are operated by three-way valves. La ae CYLINDERS; FORCE OUTPUT CALCULATION ‘Question: How dol figure out the theoretical free output in pounds) ofacylinder? ‘Answer: Follow these steps: 1. Calevlate the area of the cylinder piston ‘Area © ‘where I= 3.1416 F=172 the bore diameter 2. Multiply the piston area (determined in Step 1 above) times the air ‘pressure tobe used ‘Area x Pressure = Force Output Example: What i the thooretiealforee output ofa 2-1/2" bore cylinder ‘operating at 80 pounds per aquare inch air proseure? Step 1. Area =e? ‘Area = 3.1416 X 1.25? ‘Area = 4.91 square inches ‘Step 2. 4.91 aqin.x80 PSI = 393 pounds of force Note: The force output on the rod end of cylinder willbe slightly less due to the displacement ofthe red. ‘The real foree output ofa cylinder will be less than the theoretical ‘output because of internal friction and external wide loading. It i best to use a eslinder that will generate from 25% to 60% more force than theoretically needed CYLINDERS; MID-STROKE POSITION SENSING Question: How do I sense the position of a eylinder rod when it is somewhere between it limits? Answer: Order your eylinder with Hall Effet or Reed switches and a magnet piston. Set the switches at the desired trp points. An electrical Signal will be emitted when the magnetic piston passes a switch. See page 11 for details. CYLINDERS; NON-LUBRICATED ‘Question: Are there cylinders available that do not require lubrica- ton? Answer: Mead Centaur cylinders, pages 22-23, have Teflon® seals that glide over the cylinder tube murface ‘without the aid of lubricant. ©DuPontt " on HELPFUL ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CYLINDERS; POSITION SENSING, END-OF-STROKE Question: How doI sense that a cylinder rod has reached the end of, ite stroke? Anawor: Use any ofthe following methods or external limit valves: 1. Order your eylinder with builtin “Tater Pilots", Inter-Pilots® emit an anairsignalwhen thestrokelimitis reached. See page 11 for details, “ww! if Note: to use InterPilot, the fall 4 stroke of the eylinder must be used, 2. Order your ylinder with Hall Effect Creal switches thet emilee! ral when te erage Kit it Ye sched, See page for detail Noe to ase Fall ec or Reed ‘witches, the cylinder must be sup- plied with a magneti piston, ‘islonca 3. Use stroke completion sensors de- sensons seribed on pages 11 & 42. These “SL ‘an output signal will be generated topped short of valves react to pressure dropssothil il ] ‘even ifthe piston i ‘complete stroke, CYLINDERS; POWER OUTPUT BOOST Question: How do I get more power out of a particular eylinder? Answer: You should increase the pressure of the air that feeds the ‘linder within the recommended limits “2 bs ca CYLINDERS; PRESSURE MAINTENANCE Question: How do I maintain a constant cylinder foree output when ‘my air pressure supply fluctuates? ‘Answer: Set an air regulator (page 54) ahead of your valve at a pressure that may always be maintained, varia SZ} otistatoy Joo] ‘Example: Depending on the time of day and workload, « plant's air pressure fluctuates between 80 and 95 PSI. Set the regulator at 80 PSI tnd the eylinder power output through the plant will remain constant. Also, an sir reservoir (AR, see page 23) may be used to solve an air shoriage problem. By mounting a reservoir close to a cylinder, an fdequate amount of air will be supplied when needed. CYLINDERS; RECIPROCATING Question: How dol got « cylinder to reciprocate automatic ‘Answer: Order your eylinder with Inter Pilot (page 11), Hall Boct or Reed switches (page 11) or stroke completion Sensors (pages 11 & 42). These devices will send signals to double pressure or solenoid ‘operated valves that will shift each time a stroke has been completed. Reciprocation may also be achieved by having a cam, mounted on the cplinder rod, trip external limit valves. CYLINDERS; RODS, SINGLE AND DOUBLE. Question: What isthe difference between a single-rod and a double rod eylinder? Answer: Single-rod cylinders have a piston tod protruding ‘only one end ofthe cylinder. Double-rod cylinders have a com- ‘mon rod, driven by a single piston, protruding from both eylinder end faps. When one end retracta, the ther extends. They are excellent for providing an adjustable stroke and for providing additional rigidity. Also, a double-od with an attached eam may be used to trip a limit switch, CYLINDERS; SPACE CONSERVING TYPE Question: 1 have a space problem and cannot fit @ regular cylinder we into the area available, What may 1 do? aes ‘Answer: Use an ultra-compact Ke= Mead “Space Saver" cylinder. amma SPACE SAVER? STANDARD CYL ‘Soe page 25 for details CYLINDERS; SIDE LOADING REDUCTION Question: How may T minimize the adverse effects of gd eplinder side loading? Answer: First, bo sure that the object being moved isin || ‘cence alignment with the piston od. If the cylinder is ‘igidly mounted and Uh rod i forced off lin, the cylinder |_ bearing will wear prematurely and a loss of power will | cecur. Itmay be helpful tuse guide railatokeep the object being moved in proper alignment. Second, don't use all of the stroke. Particularly on pivot ‘and clevis models, itis wise to have the piston stop a few inches short of ful atroke. "This makes the cylinder more rigid and extends bearing ‘Third order your eylinder with aSelf Aligning Rod Coupler. ‘See page 11 for details, i CYLINDERS; SIZE SELECTION Question: How do determine the correct epinder bore size for my pplication? Answer: Follow these four easy steps: 41, Determine, in pounds the force needed todo the job. Ada 26% to 60% for fiction and wo provide tnough power tallow the cylinder rod tomove st reasonable rate of epeed 2. Find out how much air pressure will be used find maintained 8, ‘Selecta power factor from the table below that, when multiplied by the planned air pressure, will produce a force equal to that which was determined in Step 1. Power factor isthe amount of square Inches forthe eylinder bor Power Factor Table Bore Diameter | 7 [vw'liwy > pura] > Bw] ee Power Factor | «| 8 |1.0|18|3:1]40]49]71/83 [26283 4. The ie danse that a ned wl ond rear he Pon na t antcarnct ep amped oer ended 90 seemed et over faa = S08 80 PSI x power factor = 900 Ibs 1125 ‘The power factor just above 11.25 is 12.6. Therefore this job will require a 4” bore cylinder. 5HELPFUL ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CYLINDERS; SMOOTHER MOTION ‘Question: What could cause a linder to move erratically during stroking? ~ ; of Bes Answer: Iregular rod motion could be enused by: 1. To low an input air presurefor the load being moved, 2, Teoamall a cylinder bre ize forthe lad being moved. 2: Sie odie the cinder ed exusd by misatgament of the rod 4. Using low contol valves to mater the incoming air rather than the exhausting ait 65, Flow control valves ae et for too alow a rod movement. 6 An absence of lubrication. CYLINDERS; SPEED BOOST ‘Question: How do I get mare speed out ofa cylinder? ‘Anewor: You may inreass the inlet preeure to within the recom- ‘ended limits andor you may place a quick exhaust valve in ether or {oth eylinder port). See page 4 fr information onthe use of quick cahwort valve CYLINDERS; SPEED CONTROL (Question: How do Teuntrol the speed of my cylinder 77 ee: Use any of the following methods: Jace Metd Dyla-Tral® flow contrat sven (page 44) in each of the exin- " Isaving the cylinder i controlled. 2. Use right-ange flow control in the cylinder ports. These Tealure ree oved serew driver adjustment and ‘nvensent pve for ease of tubing ‘ligament. See pages 10,22 5. Place apoed control silencers (page 43) into the exhaust ports ofthe cone oe aecetee | b < micerndaimalvinebatiae EEE EL See ane ieeneare al Scat VALVES; AIR-VS- SOLENOID ACTUATION (vestion: What are the advantages of sir actuation over solenoid sctuation? ‘Answer: Solenoid atastion requires the preuence of electric witches, ‘vite and al ofthe ahilding necesary to reduce spark hacard and petsonal rik. ‘Air actuation requires only 2-way ai pilot valves and tubing. There S50 cml, spr © sheck rik ad the component are fee 7 ive toy rite FSS] Bost VALVES; AIR-TO-ELECTRIC SIGNAL CONVERSION ‘Question: Is it possible to convert an air signal into an electrical signal? aa [Anewor: Mead MPE-D and MPE-BZ Converters, shown on page 42, will {turn an air signal into an leecical signal Sir VALVES; Cy 038700 a ‘Question: What does "Cy" mean? ¥ Answer: Literally, Cv meane coef, ‘dent of velocity. Gris generally ed rears tw compare flows of valves.” ‘The higher the Gy, the greater the Dow. < {tis sometimes helpful to convert Cy into SCFM (Standard Cubic Feet ber Minate) and conversely, SCFM ints Cy. Although Cy represents flow eapacity at all pressures, SCFM represents flow ata specifica Dreweure, Therefore the following chart relates Cyto SCFM ata group of pressures ‘To cbtain SCFM output at a particular pressure, divide the valve Cy by the appropriate factor shown below. ie: Factor Table [PSt of Air Pressure] 40.50 Tete 0 [90 [ 100} ‘aro ve with a Cy of 048 Example: What isthe output in SCFM of when operated at 100 PSI? °. ari actar) ‘To convert SCFM into Cy, just reverse the process end multiply the ‘SCFM times the factor. VALVES; DETENTED (Question: What i a “detented” valve and how is it used? Answer: A detented valve is one that helda it postion by some ‘chanical senna ouch ava pring, allor cam Moet valves bld their postion by means ofthe natural friction of the rubber seals, Where ‘tural lion se low, auch as in packs valves, or where it ie not ‘afety purposes, detented mode are recom 1-27 SCFM ‘Aluo, detente are used to locete the middle postion i three position valves. See the Cap- ula valve section on pages 30 and S1 and four way valves netion on page 38 Som LUE VALVES; EXTERNAL AIR SUPPLY FOR SOLENOIDS ‘Question: Under what conditions should an external sir supply be ‘tend to feed the solenoid on directional valve? Answer: When the air pressure passing through the power section of {he valve is inefficient to aft the tspeol, when the medium passing {through the pomer wection would be ‘Setrimental o the solenoid operator, ‘or where the operating medium could othe exhausted tothe atmoophere, 6