Solutions in Motion™

By definition, actuators either move things or stop them. In industrial design and other heavy-duty applications, actuators — or cylinders — provide the driving force that moves (or holds) machinery components. You may ask, "Should I choose pneumatic cylinders for my design or some other type? Well, that depends on what you need to move, in what way, and under what conditions.

Pneumatic cylinders are powered by compressed air. But cylinders can also be powered by pressurized fluid (hydraulic), by electricity, or by hand (mechanical). For obvious practicality reasons, we can rule out hand-cranked cylinders for industrial applications.

There’s nothing we love more than a good challenge here at W.C. Branham. Usually, it’s our customers who challenge us to help them select or custom-create exactly the right component(s) for their application. Recently, however, we turned the tables on them. We challenged our customers to show us the innovative ways they're using our products in their own designs.

Our Branham Challenge turned out to be even more fun — and impressive — than we expected. We asked customers to share unique solutions that featured any of our products — a caliper disc brake, some type of pneumatic actuator, a right angle gearbox, or even one of our custom-designed components.

When choosing cylinders for industrial applications, you have to know the amount of force required to perform the job at hand. Cylinders can move, slow, or hold a load, rapidly and repeatedly, if needed. The force required depends on the load itself – its weight and movement angle, among other factors. As they say, you have to do the math. But using a cylinder force calculator would make it much easier.

We have created four charts to help you. Simply choose the chart that corresponds to the type of cylinder you expect to use.

Note: W.C. Branham makes cylinders in both metric and imperial sizes, so there are separate charts for each.

One size does not fit all. That’s true just about everywhere, but nowhere is the need for a good fit more important than in industrial design applications. Equipment that doesn’t perform flawlessly impedes productivity and wastes money. Pretty good is not good enough. Sometimes, only a custom cylinder will do.

But how do you know when custom is the way to go?

Food processing is complex, which is why these types of facilities are often huge and require multiple types of movements, from transport and sorting to lifting and rotating. Speed, reliability and sanitation are critical for processing facilities, especially if they handle perishables. In this environment, a compact cylinder provides several distinct advantages. 

Efficient material handling is critical in modern manufacturing. A century ago, moving materials from one place to another depended primarily on manual labor. It was cumbersome and time-consuming. Today, advanced technologies and equipment design innovations automate much of the work. To remain competitive, however, manufacturers must constantly search for ways to further streamline their operations.

If you're in the packaging industry, you've likely heard of the PACK EXPO, which just wrapped up this past week in Las Vegas. Whether you’re new to the industry or a packaging veteran, the PACK EXPO is a great opportunity to explore manufacturing options or start a conversation with others in the industry.

Here at W.C. Branham, we are especially proud of the role our company and products have played over the years in helping improve packaging equipment design and functionality. Versatility is critical when it comes to equipment design options, because “packaging” covers a lot of ground. Products come in all sizes, shapes, and weights, all of which present certain design challenges. But all equipment requires actuators to move the process along and stop/hold at certain points.

Things happen and sometimes repairs are inevitable. That’s part of life when you’re working with any type of equipment. Pneumatic cylinders used in industrial applications operate in high-stress environments, so it's likely they will need repairs at some point—even if they are built to last.

Here are four things you can do to extend the life of your pneumatic cylinders:

1. One thing you should get in the habit of doing is regularly inspecting and maintaining your pneumatic cylinders. There are times when something just breaks or goes askew, but most often, repairs become necessary due to wear and tear. Cylinders that receive regular attention perform the best and last the longest.

At W.C. Branham, we take great pride in the quality of our products, which are built to last. Nonetheless, wear and tear is inevitable. Pneumatic cylinders used in industrial applications or in heavy machinery, for instance, often face extremely demanding working conditions. They are constantly moving, often fast and under tremendous force.