Solutions in Motion™

Cylinders that convert energy into linear motion can be powered by hydraulic fluid or compressed air. Hydraulic cylinders are usually the go-to option for seriously heavy-duty lifting and moving because hydraulics are very powerful and can provide tremendous holding strength. But for most industrial applications, the more agile air cylinder is often a better choice.

When choosing the best type of actuator for your design, there are several variables to consider: What you need to move, how you need it to move, and under what conditions. 

Your four choices are mechanical, electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic. The difference between these cylinders gives each one distinct advantages and disadvantages when used for certain applications.

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, often face extremely demanding working conditions. They are constantly moving, often fast and under tremendous force.

Contamination and inadequate lubrication are two of the leading causes of pneumatic cylinder breakdown. Operating outside of the specified pressure range can also damage seals and/or rods.

Passenger train doors have to work smoothly, quietly, safely, and reliably. Often, they have to function in extreme conditions, where heat and/or humidity are very high, or temperatures are well below zero. They have to endure constant vibration and frequent shocks, no matter how well-maintained the railroad tracks. And passenger train doors are heavy. This is a job for pneumatic rodless cylinders.

Here's why pneumatic operating systems are the ideal choice for both internal and external passenger train doors.

The PNEUSA® is a unique cylinder design using an internally enclosed cable cylinder based on our original cable cylinder sealing technology. This provides complete protection of the internal sealing components from harsh environments, which means you can use the PNEUSA® in all types of applications!

But finding the perfect fit for your application isn’t always the easiest job. Our VP of Engineering and General Manager, Chad Randleman, breaks down how to size a PNEUSA® rodless cylinder for your rodless cylinder application:

You’ve researched the many types of actuators and decided a rod-style actuator is the answer for your industrial equipment design. That’s great! But, do you want a hydraulic rod cylinder or a pneumatic rod cylinder? Either style can deliver excellent, reliable performance in the right circumstances, so what’s the difference?

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?