Pneumatic cylinders are mechanical devices often used in industrial environments. They’re capable of performing linear or rotary work, which makes them quite useful in manufacturing processes. The etymology of the word “pneumatic” has origins in the Greek word pneumatikos, which can refer to “wind” or “air.”

The inclusion of this word within the term is essential, as pneumatic cylinders use gas or air to comply with their function. However, it is important to note that air is preferred most of the time as it reduces costs and makes it possible to operate more efficiently. In certain instances, inert gases can be used, but those need to be processed and pre-compressed previously.

What is the function of a pneumatic cylinder?

Answering this question is a bit complicated because there are diverse situations where a siłowniki pneumatyczne can be useful. The air cylinder drives a piston in a single direction. Hence, they can be useful to open doors, lift items, etc. The uses are endless. You’ve probably been a witness to how these mechanical devices work without even noticing.

Parts of a pneumatic cylinder

Before we start explaining the main types of pneumatic cylinders, it is important for you to take into account the different parts they have:

  • 2 Pots: cap-end port and rod-end port. In the case of single-acting pneumatic cylinders, there will be only one port present. Either of these ports complies perfectly with the same function in this regard.
  • Piston
  • Barrel
  • Piston rod

The parts may vary based on the type of pneumatic cylinder, which will be explained in the following section.

Types of pneumatic cylinders

There are two main types of pneumatic cylinders. While there are many other variations of these mechanical devices, they are still categorized in one of the following two classes based on the type of movement they complete.

  • Single-acting pneumatic cylinders: As the name suggests, single-acting pneumatic cylinders have one port, which is where the air enters. Once it does, it starts pushing the piston, which goes in the same direction all the time. Once it follows the path, the spring will return the piston to the initial position, starting the process again.
  • Double-acting pneumatic cylinders: These pneumatic cylinders have two ports. Therefore, the piston goes through opposite directions and moves more quickly. There are instroke and outstroke movements, which can be useful for fast-paced operations.

What are pneumatic cylinders used for?

Pneumatic cylinders have diverse uses, and most of them are related to the automatization of industrial processes. You’re also likely to find pneumatic cylinders as part of everyday items, such as a bus’s doors.

Taking the bus as an example, you can notice that the pneumatic cylinder is part of the mechanism as when the door opens, it releases air – which is clearly hearable. Like this, there are many other uses for pneumatic cylinders in today’s world.