SMC pneumatic cylinders are versatile adapt to every kind of industrial need or requirement. Our pneumatic actuators and cylinders provide lightweight and compact solutions for industrial use and are designed to reduce costs as well as maximise the performance of your machines.
In our pneumatic cylinders catalogue you will find products and components that will make your equipment and machinery work as you need.
Different types of pneumatic actuators we offer at SMC
Linear Actuators
This kind of actuators convert pneumatic energy into a linear motion, and they can be classified into two main categories:
Single acting cylinders: The piston rod force acts in only one direction, as there is only one compressed air supply.
Double acting cylinders: The piston rod force acts in both directions, the output stroke, and the return stroke, as the air is supplied alternately to the two chambers of the cylinder.
Guided Actuators
Guided cylinders are specially designed to withstand higher external forces and perform high-precision movements. They can be divided mainly into 2 categories:
Cylinders with guide rods: Cylinders with an internal guide system that provide a compact, sturdy, and precise solution.
Slide tables: Pneumatic slides are compact actuators ideal for high-precision movements.
Rotary Actuators
Rotary actuators transform the pneumatic energy into a rotary motion, and they are specifically designed for industrial applications where the workpiece must be rotated or turned.
According to their operating principle, rotary cylinders can be divided into:
- Rack and pinion actuator
- Rotary vane actuator
Pneumatic grippers
Grippers are the mechanical element that allows a workpiece to be picked up and held for further handling. The selection of a gripper must be done according to requirements and features of each application, and the shape of the workpieces is a decisive factor. According to this, there are three types of grippers:
Parallel gripper: Parallel grippers are mainly used for flat and parallel surfaces.
Angular gripper (180° or smaller): Angular grippers are ideal for convex and concave surfaces.
Concentric gripper: Centric grippers are perfect for cylindrical and spherical surfaces.
Typical applications for pneumatic cylinders
Pneumatic actuators and cylinders are used in a wide range of applications across different industries, such as:
Typical applications for pneumatic cylinders include:
- Pressing
- Lifting
- Transferring
- Positioning
- Clamping
- Stopping
- Pick and place
- Sorting
How to choose a pneumatic cylinder?
There are several elements to take into consideration when it comes to selecting pneumatic cylinders for your applications. Some of them are:
- Bore size: The actuator's bore size is calculated according to the required power and the pressure of the compressed air.
- Load Stopping Impact: Using the right shock absorber can definitely make the difference, ensuring a soft impact and protection of the workpiece. In case of a high-speed environment, selecting a hydraulic shock absorber might be necessary: this will help protecting the application components.
- External forces: The cylinder could be subjected to external forces, such as flexion or bucking, which must be considered when choosing an actuator. In some cases, an external or integrated guided system could be necessary.
- Required air flow: When designing a pneumatic circuit, it's essential to know to the cylinder's operating speed to calculate the airflow needed for the system to work properly.
- Moment of inertia: for rotary actuators, an additional factor must be considered. Calculating the moment of inertia is extremely important because an eventual miscalculation can lead to an oversizing, undersizing or to an inadequate solution.
It is also crucial to consider environmental factors to maximise the service life of pneumatic components. For instance, excessive moisture, oils or other particles could cause failures during industrial processes.
Optimising the quality of compressed air, according to the recommendations of specialists, is essential for the preventive maintenance of pneumatic systems.
Choose long-lasting actuators and accessories through our pneumatic cylinders' configurator, among other engineering tools SMC offers.
Any doubts or questions while selecting your cylinders? Ask our experts!
