Feature

Know your pneumatics – rodless cylinders with integrated directional control valves

Any engineer tasked with specifying a linear actuator for an industrial automation application will look for products able to deliver reliability, precision and speed. However, there are numerous other, often overlooked, factors that should feature in the purchase decision.

03/08/2018 11:48:43

By way of example, consider rodless linear actuator solutions that integrate 3/2 directional control valves into their end caps; these can prove far more advantageous than deploying control valves separate from the actuators, for a multitude of reasons.

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Arguably the most obvious benefit here is the potential saving on space. First and foremost, rodless cylinders are used primarily for their compact design; they provide the same stroke as conventional cylinders, but in roughly half the space. With this type of pneumatic cylinder, the external carriage slides back and forward along the cylinder body, instead of an external rod extending and retracting. Such a design is especially useful for applications that demand long strokes or elevated moment loads, due to the shorter, enclosed and self-guided configuration.

Read the full article in the August issue of DPA

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.