But He was pierced for our

transgressions; He was crushed

for our iniquities; upon Him was
chastisement that brought us
peace, and with His wounds we
are healed.
Isaiah 53:5

Pneumatic
Actuators
PNEUMATIC
CYLINDERS
PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS
These are the pneumatic elements that transform
compressed air's potential energy into linear displacement.
Pneumatic cylinders are capable of very high speed and
considerable shock forces can be developed on the end of
the stroke.
To prevent damage to the cylinder or to the moving
components, cushioning is used
Three main types of cushioning:
Elastic Cushion

Adjustable Pneumatic Cushion

Hydraulic Cushion
Elastic cushion
It is used in smallest cylinders,
which move light elements.
An elastic rubber ring, placed in
the piston, is the responsible of
absorbing the shock and
preventing any damage in the
cylinder.
Adjustable pneumatic cushion
It is used in bigger cylinders.
This type of cushioning consists
in decelerating the piston at the
final part of the stroke.
To do it, part of the outlet air is
more slowly evacuated by means
of an adjustable restriction (3),
the regular outlet closes when a
cushion ferrule (1) enters the
cushion joint (2).
 Hydraulic cushion
It is used in applications with mass-
braking problems in the ends of
stroke.
Due to the design of the holes, it can
get an optimal absorption level,
appropriate to each loading case
without regulation.
Hydraulic cushions are installed in
the external part of the cylinder,
generally operating directly with the
moving mass.
Two Main types of Pneumatic Cylinder:
SINGLE ACTING CYLINDERS:
The air input develops thrust in one direction only and return is
caused by a fitted spring.
DOUBLE ACTING CYLINDERS:
 Thrust is developed in both extending and retracting direction as
air pressure is applied alternately to opposite sides of a piston.
Two types of Pneumatic Cylinders:
According to its Classification
ROD CYLINDERS:
The piston is linked to the rod, which comes out of the sleeve when
doing the operation stroke and gets in for the backward movement.
RODLESS CYLINDERS:
The piston is linked to a carriage which moves with it through the
cylinder’s sleeve.
SINGLE ACTING CYLINDERS
The air input develops thrust in one direction only and return is
caused by a fitted spring. There are two types: 1.) with rod inside (the
spring is located in the front chamber); 2.) with the rod outside (the
spring is located in the back chamber).

Example of Single Acting Cylinder with rod inside

DOUBLE ACTING CYLINDERS
The forward stroke is done when the air is applied from the back
inlet, and the backward stroke is done when air is applied from the
front inlet.

Example of Double Acting Cylinder

RODLESS CYLINDERS
In some occasions, the fact that a cylinder doubles its length during
the stroke (cylinder’s length + rod’s length when it is extended) may
represent a problem, especially for large strokes:

Example of Rodless Cylinder

Types of RODLESS CYLINDERS :
Magnetically Coupled Rodless Cylinder
The piston is not joined to the carriage, and moves it using
magnetic force.
These cylinders may have external guides.

Example of Magnetically Coupled Rodless Cylinder

Types of RODLESS CYLINDERS :
Magnetically Coupled Rodless Cylinder
Types of RODLESS CYLINDERS :
Magnetically Coupled Rodless Cylinder
 There are main disadvantages, such as:
It cannot be used to move big masses, because of
the limitations of magnetic force.
It cannot be used in environments with metallic
shavings.
Types of RODLESS CYLINDERS :
Mechanical Joint Rodless Cylinder
The piston is physically joined to the carriage.
In order to hermetically close the groove in the sleeve, it is blocked
by a seal, which is covered by a metal strip.

Example of Mechanical Joint Rodless Cylinder

Types of RODLESS CYLINDERS :
Mechanical Joint Rodless Cylinder
To be continued…