Find air cylinders including compressed air cylinders, miniature air cylinders and more. From pneumatic cylinders and rodless cylinders to stainless steel cylinders, you will find the air cylinder you need. Use the time-saving Request for Quote tool to submit your inquiry to all the air cylinder manufacturers and suppliers you select.
For over 50 years, Clippard Instrument Laboratory has taken pride in manufacturing pneumatic and electronic devices such as air cylinders, stainless steel cylinders, miniature air cylinders and pneumatic cylinders. We are proud to be a corporate partner in making our community a better place.
Established in 1947, Allenair is one of the oldest, privately held fluid power manufacturers in the U.S.A. Our primary product lines include air cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders and stainless steel cylinders that still maintain the highest quality standards and lowest cost.
With 60 years experience manufacturing innovative air cylinders and valves, we offer standard and custom solutions. Cylinder types include NFPA, rodless, micro and mini, ISO/VDMA, octagon, twin rod, slides and pneumatic cylinders. Try our on-line configurators! We strive for customer satisfaction.
Festo is a world-class manufacturer of pneumatic, electro-mechanical and
control components and systems, with more than 75 years of experience in providing customer-driven automation solutions and service.
Our range of pneumatic cylinders offer optimized performance for every
application.
Tolomatic manufactures durable pneumatic band, cable, and magnetically coupled rodless air cylinders and rod cylinder slides. We offer built-to-order, built-to-last products, shipped in 5 days or less. Expertise in customized actuator development. Call us today!
Supplying quality air/pneumatic cylinders to industry for 58 years. We specialize in NFPA tie rod cylinders, mill type and torpedo cylinders, air to air & air to hydraulic boosters, air over hydraulic cylinders & air-oil tanks. We offer many standard options, as well as custom air cylinders to your specifications.
Our company name is not a misnomer—we’ve been manufacturing cylinders and valves since 1958. We manufacture hydraulic and air cylinders plus their associated valves and replacement parts. Anodized aluminum, brass and stainless steel are the materials in our cylinders and valves. Bore sizes of 3/8”-4”.
AiROYAL Manufacturing’s focus is pneumatic & hydraulic medium duty air cylinders 1 1/8 - 5 inches and heavy duty small bore cylinders 5/8 - 2 ½ inches. Available in brass, aluminum, stainless steel, hasteloy & titanium with plated carbon steel rods & interchangeable mountings. Custom designs welcome.
Air cylinders are the final component in a pneumatic
or compressed air control or power system. Air cylinders, or pneumatic
cylinders, are devices that convert compressed air power into mechanical
energy. This mechanical energy produces linear or rotary motion. In this
way, the air cylinder functions as the actuator in the pneumatic system,
so it is also known as a pneumatic linear actuator. The air cylinder
consists of a steel or stainless steel piston, a piston rod, a cylinder
barrel and end covers. As compressed air moves into a cylinder, it pushes
the piston along the length of the cylinder. Compressed air or a spring,
located at the rod end of the cylinder, pushes the piston back. Valves
control the flow of compressed air to the cylinder. The choices for cylinder
housing styles include the following: tie-rod, smooth body, pancake,
rectangular, multiple bore, stainless
steel, rodless, compact, miniature/microcylinder,
clean profile and twin-rod cylinder.
Air cylinder manufacturers produce two basic types of air cylinders:
single acting and double acting. The single acting cylinder is able to
perform an operating motion in only one direction. A single acting air
cylinder has air pressure on one side of a piston flange, supplying force
and motion, and a spring supplying the return force after pressure release.
Single acting cylinders require approximately half the amount of air
used by a double acting cylinder for a single operating cycle. A double
acting pneumatic
cylinder has powered motion in two directions, with
pressure on both sides. When a cylinder is pushed out in one direction,
compressed air moves it back in the other direction. Air lines running
into both ends of the cylinder supply the compressed air. The flow of
compressed air is controlled with valves for both single and double acting
cylinders. Other types of cylinders include rotary cylinders, impact
cylinders and multiple- position, or opposed-thrust, cylinders.
Pneumatic systems produce large linear movement and consist of an input,
a process and an output. The input is compressed air from the compressor
or hand pump. The process is a valve that directs the air to the rod
end or base of the cylinder, and the output is an extending or retracting
piston rod. Use of pneumatic systems is advantageous because they can
be connected with hoses, pipe or tubing without difficulty. Air is inexpensive
and plentiful and can be easily compressed and stored in tanks. Exhaust
air is relatively environmentally friendly and can be returned to the atmosphere.
Pneumatic systems are used to push, pull, lift and open/close doors in
material handling and processing. They can also hold, remove and position
materials or pieces for manufacturing.
Air cylinder manufacturers produce many different cylinder designs for
a variety of applications in different industries. Choosing an air cylinder
for a pneumatic system can be a daunting task. Air cylinder manufacturers
can customize units with a special stroke, a custom mounting style or
unusual seal material. Although custom air cylinders have the advantage
of exactly suiting the application, it is recommended to look for an
off-the-shelf solution first, as standard air cylinders cost less and
are available for quick delivery. In sizing cylinders, focus on the load,
velocity and air pressure. The cylinder should be sized to move the greatest
load at the lowest acceptable velocity with the minimum available pressure.
Determine the stroke length, the spring force (for a single-acting cylinder)
and the overall dimensions of the cylinder. The mounting style – the
options for which include nose, block, universal, pivot and trunnion – is
determined by the size, force and function of the cylinder. Optional
components that help to improve cylinder performance or prevent problems
include cushions, bumpers, stop tubes, dual pistons, flow controls, position-sensing
switches and position feedback sensors. Environmental factors have a
huge impact on cylinder operation, so choose seals, beatings, lubricants,
materials and finishes that will help counteract any negative effects.
Aluminum Air Cylinder
Rodless Air Cylinder
ISO-VDMA Pneumatic Cylinders
Air Cylinders and
Air Cylinder Manufacturers Images provided by Bosch
Rexroth Corp.
Types of Air Cylinders
Adjustable stroke cylinders
have adjustable stops at one or both ends to restrict the amount of
piston travel.
Clean profile cylinders
are flat barrels with round edges and T-slots for sensors along the
entire length of the barrel on three sides. Clean profile cylinders
are used in applications that require ease of cleaning and good hygiene,
as the clean, square line design prevents the collection of dust and
dirt.
Compact cylinders,
also called “short stroke cylinders,” are cylinders whose
overall dimensions at zero stroke are minute compared to the typical
cushioned cylinders. These low-profile cylinders are used in applications
in which there is not enough space for a standard length cylinder, as
they can lock or move short distances, even in limited spaces.
Double-acting air cylinders
have air lines that provide pressure to both ends of the cylinder,
supplying motion in two directions. The flow of compressed air is controlled
by valves.
Double rod cylinders
have one piston, and the piston rod extends from both ends of the cylinder.
Miniature air cylindersMiniature air cylinders,
also called “microcylinders,” are small, rectangular, single-acting
air cylinders in which the springs are housed inside enlarged piston
rods. Miniature air cylinders operate in reverse motion, are easy to
install, offer a range of interchangeable mounting brackets, which attach
to the cylinder ends to provide versatility and adaptability, and can
be powered by plant air.
Multiple bore cylinders
have two or more boxes and pistons combined or stacked in the
same cylinder.
Multiple-position cylinders
are double-acting cylinders that consist of two cylinders with the same
diameter. Multiple-position cylinders provide three or more end positions,
as opposed to the normal two provided by other double-acting cylinders.
Non-rotating cylinders
are cylinders in which the piston rod, ram or plunger and the relative
rotation of the cylinder housing and piston are set.
Pancake cylinders
have shorter lengths and larger diameters than other cylinders.
Pneumatic cylinders
are comprised of a piston, a lower and upper port and an expansion chamber.
Reverse single acting
air cylinders are similar to single acting air cylinders, but
the port is located on the opposite end in order to provide power on
the retraction, or “pull” stroke.
Single-acting air cylinders
have air pressure that supplies motion and force from one side of the
piston flange and a spring that provides the return force after pressure
release. Single-acting air cylinders utilize about half the amount of
compressed air, which is controlled by valves, required by double-acting
air cylinders for a single operating motion.
Smooth body cylinders
are cylinders in which the cylinder body encases the piston.
Rectangular cylinders
are encased in a rectangular, box-shaped frame.
Rodless cylinders
have an extruded anodized aluminum barrel that is formed with a longitudinal
slot, permitting the connection of the piston to the mounting carriage.
A hardened stainless steel band pneumatically seals the cylinder, while
a second stainless steel band on the exterior closes the slot and prevents
contamination to the interior of the cylinder; a system of slide rails
divides the two bands in the pressure-free zone between the two piston
seals, which allows movement of the mounting carriage.
Single rod cylinders
have only one piston, and the piston rod extends from only one end.
Stainless steel cylinders
are suitable for harsh environments in which they will be rigorously
cleaned for hygienic reasons or exposed to corrosive forces. Stainless
steel cylinders are often referred to as “throwaway,” as
they are irreparable, and therefore, the cheapest of all cylinders.
Tandem cylinders
consist of two or more cylinders with linked piston assemblies.
Tie-rod cylinders
are held together by exterior tie rods and are usually in a rectangular
bolt pattern.
Twin rod cylinders
consist of a series of twin-cylinder slide units and feature side-by-side
twin cylinders in one body and two piston rods connected with a mounting
plate. This design guarantees precise guiding compared to a typical
cylinder and applies double the force of a cylinder of the same height.
Common Terms Related to Air Cylinders
Actuator –
A device that converts fluid power into mechanical power. An actuator
may be a cylinder or a fluid motor.
Air Consumption – The amount
of compressed air that is consumed by a pneumatic cylinder. The energy
of the air is converted into power output and exhausted into the atmosphere
on the reversal of the piston stroke.
Air Compressor – Device used
in a pneumatic power system to supply the compressed air.
Bellows – A circumferentially
corrugated cylinder that is flexible and thin-walled and may have integral
ends that axially contract or expand when under changing pressure.
Bore – The inside diameter of
the cylinder tube.
Bubble Tight – A term referring
to a tightly closing valve seat that prevents the leakage of visible gas
bubbles.
Clearance – On the working
side of the piston, the maximum volume of the cylinder from which the
piston displacement volume per stroke is subtracted. Typically, clearance
is expressed as a percentage of the displacement volume.
Clevis – A cylinder mounting
device.
Compressed Air – Air that is
at any level of pressure greater than the prevailing atmospheric pressure.
Crosshead Assembly – The connecting
assembly used to translate circular motion to linear motion from the crankcase
and connecting rod to the cylinder head and piston rod.
Cushion Cylinder – A device
in a cylinder that enables the control of movement by restricting the
flow at the outlet, stopping the movement of the piston rod.
Cylinder – Also referred to
as a “linear motor,” it is a device that converts pneumatic
power into linear (in a line) or reciprocating (back-and-forth) motion.
Cylinder Thrust – The driving
force (i.e. the piston power) generated in the cylinder that is a function
of the piston diameter, the working air pressure and resistance caused
by friction.
Directional Control Valve –
A valve that controls the flow of air in a particular direction.
Drag – A situation in which
the valve remains partially open after popping until the pressure further
decreases.
Filter – A device through which
air is passed in order to separate suspended contaminates. The life of
cylinders and valves is lengthened by using filters.
Fluid – A liquid or gas.
Fluid Power – Power conveyed
and maintained by the use of a pressurized fluid.
Foot – A mounting device for
cylinders.
Gag – A device that, when attached
to a safety or safety relief valve, prohibits its opening at the set pressure.
N.C. (Normally Closed) – A designation
describing the position of a valve when it is resting (non-activated).
N.O. (Normally Open) – A designation
describing the resting position (non-activated) of a valve.
Piston – The sliding piece that
is put into motion by pneumatic pressure. Typically, pistons consist of
a short cylinder fitted inside a cylindrical tube in which it moves in
and out.
Piston Velocity – Determined
by opposing forces, operating pressure, inside diameter, length of air
line between control valve and cylinder and size of control valve. The
piston velocity may also be affected by the installation of any quick-exhaust
or throttle valve.
Pneumatic System – The use of
a gas, usually air, to transmit, convert or store power.
Port –The external or internal
terminus of the valve on an air cylinder.
Power Factor – The relationship
between the surface area of a piston and air pressure of an air cylinder.
PSIA (Pounds Per Square Inch, Absolute)
– The sum of gauge and atmospheric pressures, which will vary with
altitude.
Regulator – A device that provides
control of the operating pressure of the compressed air system. Regulators
allow working pressure of the system to be adjusted from the minimum to
the maximum at the prop.
Reservoir – A storage area for
air that, when located near the prop, prevents air starvation.
Solenoid (http://www.iqsdirectory.com/solenoid-valves)
– A coil of wire, usually in cylindrical form, that is used as
a switch or control for the valve of an air cylinder. When solenoids
carry
a current, they act like a magnet, drawing a moveable core into the coil
as the current flows.
Valve – A device that controls
the flow of air in an air cylinder.
