Pneumatic Components &

Systems

Team 1640
Clem McKown – mentor
November 2008
Topics
 What are pneumatics?
 What are pneumatics good for?
 How pneumatics work
 The pneumatic system
 Variations on the theme
What are pneumatics
 Mechanisms which
use air pressure to
Retracted
apply mechanical Cylinder
force and
displacement (work)
 The pneumatic
devices we use are
basically binary
actuators – either
retracted or Extended
Cylinder
extended
What are pneumatics good for?
 Mechanisms requiring (2) discrete states
 Gear shifters
 Gripper articulation
 Lifters
 Brakes
 …and a significant force or displacement
Strengths
Strengths
 Simple
Strengths
 Simple
 Easy to control
Strengths
 Simple
 Easy to control
 Can apply a lot of force from a small, light
package
Strengths
 Simple
 Easy to control
 Can apply a lot of force from a small, light
package
 Force is limited by air pressure and cylinder
diameter
Strengths
 Simple
 Easy to control
 Can apply a lot of force from a small, light
package
 Force is limited by air pressure and cylinder
diameter
 No adverse consequence if cylinder is stopped
(no stalled motors) or reversed – compressed
air is a spring
Drawbacks
Drawbacks
 A significant weight “investment” (~10
lbm) in a pneumatic system is needed
for the first pneumatic device
Drawbacks
 A significant weight “investment” (~10
lbm) in a pneumatic system is needed
for the first pneumatic device
 Cylinders can be subject to damage
Drawbacks
 A significant weight “investment” (~10
lbm) in a pneumatic system is needed
for the first pneumatic device
 Cylinders can be subject to damage
 Repair impossible
Drawbacks
 A significant weight “investment” (~10
lbm) in a pneumatic system is needed
for the first pneumatic device
 Cylinders can be subject to damage
 Repair impossible
 Not well suited for non-binary actuation
 In Industry
 Pneumatic actuators are extensively used
by the Chemical Process Industry due to
their intrinsic safety and their ability to fail
safe (w/ spring return)
2-position pneumatically
pneumatic driven flow
actuator control valves
driving a (butterfly type)
4-way
ball valve
 How it works

⅛” NPTF Air Port (Retraction)

Typically,
pressure
is applied
to one port
while the Seals
other is
vented to Rod
atmosphere Piston
- so DP is
regulated Cylinder
gauge
pressure Force = Area (in2) x D Pressure (lbf/in2)
(60 psi max) Extension Area = Cylinder CS Area
Subtract Rod CS Area for Retraction
⅛” NPTF Air Port (Extension)
More works
 We may specify
 Cylinder Diameter – sets Force @ a pressure
 Stroke Length
 Mounting Options
 Rod Material
 Rod Extensions
 Spring Return
 ….

Stroke

Length
 Cylinder Specs (Bimba DXP/DX/DP)

2
Air Pressure (gauge): 60 lbf/in
2
Dimension (in) Area (in ) Force (lbf) Mass (lbm) Length (in)
Nominal Cyl ID Rod OD Extend Retract Extend Retract Base per inch Base
3/4" 0.750 0.250 0.44 0.39 27 24 0.21 0.03 3.75
7/8" 0.875 0.250 0.60 0.55 36 33 0.32 0.03 3.56
1-1/16" 1.063 0.313 0.89 0.81 53 49 0.33 0.05 3.84
1-1/4" 1.250 0.438 1.23 1.08 74 65 0.71 0.08 4.72
1-1/2" 1.500 0.438 1.77 1.62 106 97 0.73 0.08 4.38
1-3/4" 1.750 0.500 2.41 2.21 144 133 1.64 0.11 5.75
2" 2.000 0.500 3.14 2.95 188 177 1.62 0.15 5.62
2-1/2" 2.500 0.500 4.91 4.71 295 283 2.27 0.17 5.62
3" 3.000 0.625 7.07 6.76 424 406 3.87 0.26 6.50
The pneumatic system I
(the investment)
Pressure Users
Regulator Pressure
Gauge

Pressure
Gauge

High Pressure

Low Pressure
Pressure
Vent
High-Pressure

High-Pressure
Valve
Air Storage

Air Storage
Pressure
Safety
Valve

Pressure
Switch

Motor

Compressor
Controller Spike
 The pneumatic system II
(the solenoid valve)
id e
n tS S id e
Ve u t
ly/ tp
pp O u
Su

All ports
⅛” NPTF
Port B

State A Vent A State B

A B A B
Air Supply
(Pressure) Port A
Vent B
V P V V P V
The pneumatic system III
(device control)
State A – Extends rod
State B – Retracts rod

¼” flexible tubing

Air
Pressure

A restrictor valve in Vent B

slows extension speed
Controller Spike
without affecting retraction
speed
 The pneumatic system III
(device control)
If you are using pairs of State A – Extends rod
cylinders which are activated State B – Retracts rod
together, they can be driven
by common solenoids

¼” flexible tubing

Air
Pressure

A restrictor valve in Vent B

slows extension speed
Controller Spike
without affecting retraction
speed
Plumbing – Tubing Fittings

Male Elbow - SMC KQL07-34S

Male Connector - SMC KQH07-34S

Tee - SMC KQT07-00 Restrictor Elbow - SMC NAS2201F-N01-07S

Something outside the box

In 2006
Team 386 created high vacuum
with cylinders
 Team 386 (2006)
a better vacuum
Team 386 used suction to lift ringers,
but was underwhelmed by the vacuum
developed by venturi
 Team 386 (2006)
a better vacuum
Team 386 used suction to lift ringers,
but was underwhelmed by the vacuum
developed by venturi

Retracting the smaller cylinder

Team 386 (2006)
a better vacuum

Generates a high
vacuum on the
larger cylinder

Retracting the smaller cylinder

 Team 386 (2006)
a better vacuum
Separate cylinder sets were used for
each suction cup, providing redundancy

Generates a high
vacuum on the
larger cylinder

Retracting the smaller cylinder

 Team 386 (2006)
a better vacuum
Separate cylinder sets were used for
each suction cup, providing redundancy

Extending the small cylinders released

the vacuum and dropped the ringer
Breaks the vacuum

Extending the smaller cylinder