One part of heavy machinery is hydraulic cylinders, which generate a mechanical force in a linear motion. The power of a hydraulic machine comes from a pressurized hydraulic fluid, typically hydraulic oil. Choosing the proper type can make or break the entire process when entering any hydraulic cylinder project.
Hydraulic cylinders play an integral part in many industrial applications, and selecting one can have significant ramifications on the performance, safety, and cost-effectiveness of your operations - here is our comprehensive guide that can assist with choosing an adequate one:
Load Capacity
The load capacity of a hydraulic cylinder is its maximum force-carrying capacity. For any application using this cylinder to have optimal results, ensuring your capacity requirements are met without overloading is important. Overloading a cylinder can result in premature wear, damage, and catastrophic failure—an overloaded cylinder can overuse and break faster than later!
• Find the maximum load, though, and make allowance for potential overload conditions.
• Make Ensure the cylinder supplies more power than its maximum load capacity.
Stroke Length
Stroke length (the distance a piston travels from fully retracted to a fully extended position) is critical to ensuring the cylinder moves the load a set distance.
• Before making this measurement, accurately measuring your application’s stroke length requirement is best.
• Consider how much extra stroke length you’ll need for safety or a slight misalignment in alignment.
Mounting Options
The way the cylinder is mounted with machinery and moves depends on its mounting configuration. Different mounting styles, such as flange, clevis, trunnion, or side mounted, offer various advantages according to the application.
• Instead of choosing the first mounting style you find, consider which would best match your setup.
• The mounting points must sustain the operation’s loads and stresses.
Operating Environment
This means that the operating environment of a hydraulic cylinder can have an enormous impact on its performance and lifespan, for example, exposure to temperatures, water, dust, chemicals contaminating its contents, or extreme temperatures and exposure. When determining this part of the operation, a given factor must be considered, such as temperature extremes, taking the dust, tips to extend the operation life, temperature extremes vs Dust, etc.
• Choose materials and coatings that will withstand corrosion and wear in harsh environments, and seal and wipe materials suitable for the conditions in which your cylinder will work.
Additional Considerations
Let's explore a few additional considerations
Speed and Frequency of Operation
Knowing the speed and frequency specifications for your cylinder’s cycles will help you choose a unit that meets performance requirements and doesn’t overheat or wear out too much.
• Make Ensure your chosen model’s cycle speed/frequency requirements are checked.
• If the cylinder will run often or at high speed, ensure it has enough cooling or heat dissipation.
Fluid Type and Compatibility
For your cylinder to perform optimally, you must match your choices of hydraulic fluid to its seals and materials. Different fluids' viscosities and lubricities could affect their performance, such as viscosity or lubricity levels that might not allow their usage.
• Check that your cylinder will work with your hydraulic fluid and that the products offer superior performance or longevity for your application.
Precision and Control
In positioning systems and robotics, precise control of cylinder movements is sometimes necessary. If such applications demand exact positioning, such as systems that involve positioning or robotics that use them, then seek cylinders with position feedback systems or ones configured for more precise control with the addition of control valves or position sensors. In such cases, some cylinders with position feedback systems would offer more accuracy than non-feedback systems or position feedback sensors.
• This device controls the movements of several moving cylinders attached by control valves with sensors to achieve optimal precision.
• Always aim for cylinders with built-in position sensors and check that your control system can interact with the feedback system.
Various types of hydraulic cylinders
The following are some of the most common types of hydraulic cylinders that are available:
Single-Acting Cylinders
Most reciprocating engines, using petrol or diesel as fuel, use single-acting hydraulic cylinders. These cylinders are also used for smaller mechanical devices, so they are lighter and require little maintenance. As they operate, air enters the other side of the piston, moving the rod in one direction or lifting an object.
Double-Acting Cylinders
A double-acting hydraulic cylinder differs from a single-acting cylinder in one of the following ways: It has two air supply ports instead of a single port. It adds another air supply port, which helps it move faster and uses less energy because the pressurized air moves in both directions. Double-acting hydraulic cylinders are more expensive, and air may be consumed at other speeds.
Tie-Rod Cylinders
Industrial factories use tie rod hydraulic cylinders to support, lift, and press heavy loads in agricultural and construction equipment. Threaded rods with reverse threads on their ends are assembled to match clevises and used to hold together tie-rod hydraulic cylinders. However, these threaded rods are also referred to as tie rods.
Conclusion
Numerous criteria determine which hydraulic cylinder is best for your application. If you carefully consider each element, you can be sure that your chosen hydraulic cylinder will function as intended.