Miniature Air Cylinders Are Ideal For Small Spaces

Miniature air cylinders are designed and used in spaces that are limited, and are single acting pneumatic cylinders. Storing compressed air as its primary function, these cylinders are ideal for small part positioning, clamping and ejecting. Miniature air cylinders function like your basic generic air cylinder, just smaller. The definition of an air cylinder is a pneumatic linear actuator that is driven by a pressure differential in the cylinder's chambers. Linear actuators have an output rod that provides linear motion via a motor driven ball screw, lead screw, or ACME screw assembly. The actuator's load is attached to the end of a screw or rod and is often unsupported. The perfect choice for applications where small-bore, medium duty, repairable cylinders are preferred, mini air cylinders are also often referred to as micro air cylinders. Air cylinders are used in many positioning, actuating and clamping applications. Choices for air cylinder style include tie rod, smooth body, pancake, rectangular, rotating and multiple bore. A rectangular cylinder is encased in a rectangular, box-shaped frame. In a multiple-bore cylinder, two or more bores and pistons combined or stacked in same air cylinder. An air cylinder can be single or double action. In a single-action device, the cylinder contains pneumatic porting for drive in only one direction. Single-action air cylinders frequently incorporate a return spring to the un-powered position. In a double action device, both sides of the piston can be pressurized for reversible motion. Force ratings can differ somewhat in opposite directions. Miniature air cylinders are traditionally only designed with single action cylinders. In miniature air cylinders one side of a piston flange can be pressurized to provide force and motion with a spring (providing return force after pressure is released), other full-sized air cylinders, however may be single-acting (with a spring return) or double-acting. Miniature air cylinders are traditionally a rectangular shape, which operate in reverse motion. Mini cylinders are pneumatic cylinders, meaning they use the pressure of compressed air to create work energy. Used in areas where space is at a premium, miniature air cylinders work with all the functionality of normal pneumatic air cylinders and are comprised of the same safety features as regular sized air cylinders as they are used in a setting where even rare and brief system failure is unacceptable. Safety mechanisms put in place with the miniature air cylinder could comprise of locks, which are used when there is a loss of air supply in the air cylinder, or alternatively when the air pressure of the air cylinder is dropping. Miniature air cylinders, also called compact air cylinders, offer the same force output as larger cylinders while taking up less space. Their small size and flexible mounting options make compact air cylinders ideal for small automation equipment. Some low-profile cylinders are available with flat machined sides and threaded-hole mounts for easy, accurate mounting. Despite their small size, compact air cylinders are still able to have magnetic position sensing switches mounted to them.