The Airpel -Air Bearing provides force without friction, which is made possible by a stainless steel piston that is fitted to a borosilicate glass cylinder. The introduction of pressurized air into the air bearingβs cylinder creates a true air bearing airflow effect around the piston.With as little as 5 PSI of air applied to the […]
Actuators
Non-stiction cylinders offer precise position sensing
Airpot Corporation has added aΒ position sensing option to its popular line of Airpel non-stiction air cylinder actuators.Β The company offers non-contact electronic switching sensors from Sick, Inc. using state-of-the-art GMR technology. The addition of GMR sensing technology to the Airpel non-stiction cylinder line offers OEM designers an easy-to-install, secure, and reliable solution. For customers desiring […]
Cleanliness, cushioning, and kits lead pneumatic-actuator trends
ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ actuators, often called air cylinders, are an inexpensive and easy-to-use design choice for many industrial applications that require linear motion. While the technology has been around in nearly its current form for more than half a century, there are some interesting trends and design advances that engineers should be aware of. There have been […]
Where are rodless cylinders used?
Rodless cylinders are used in pneumatic applications requiring a compact installation with a wide range of stroke possibilities. They most often used for automation applications requiring positioning, and can run full stroke to index tooling, or position objects in material handing. A rodless cylinder has a piston activated from either side with compressed air. The […]
New twist on pneumatic muscles
Ken Korane β’ Contributing Editor Researchers are taking advantage of light, yet powerful pneumatics to improve life for pediatric patients. The Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP), a network of researchers, educators, students and industry experts, is helping advance hydraulic and pneumatic technology and developing fluid-power systems that are smaller, lighter and better-performing […]
ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ system guidelines for success
Pat PhillipsΒ β’Β Product ManagerΒ β’Β Fluid Power & Mechanical ProductsΒ β’Β AutomationDirect Following these design rules will ensure a successful machine automation application. ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ cylinders are a popular way to clamp, position and transfer parts in automated equipment. They also offer one of the simplest ways to achieve mechanical motion and fixturing of parts […]
Surgical assist robot goes pneumatic
Surgical precision saw a major technological boost in the early 1980s when robots began accompanying doctors in the OR. In recent years, minimally invasive operations have been gaining popularity over traditional surgery because of faster post-operative recovery and less scarring. Many of these endoscope-based surgical operations present unique risks, such as camera shake or communication […]
ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ actuators ensure ballast function in emergencies
Depending on the weight and distribution of the load in the hull, ballast tank systems either flood or empty the distributed tanks. This βtrimmingβ generates counterweights on demand, keeping the ship stable on water. The special challenge: βThe system has to continue functioning even in the event of power failure and if the valves are […]
Close to the actuator: energy-efficient pneumatic design
Technical designers always try to position pneumatic valves as close to actuators as possible, because shorter tubing lengths reduce the required compressed air by up to 20 percent. However, common valves are usually too large and heavy for handling applications. With AVENTICSβ new generation of extremely compact and lightweight Advanced Valve AV valve systems, engineers […]
Safe and easy braking with pneumatic actuators and valves
Slowing and stopping a towed vehicle can be tricky. To simplify this, SMI Brake, Newburg, Ind., turned to Clippard Instrument Laboratory, Cincinnati, and Isaacs Fluid Power, Indianapolis, to provide solutions for braking a towed vehicle. ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟs was chosen over solenoids because of its compact size, efficiency, consistency and long term reliability. SMI offers three solutions […]
