wcbranham-header
715-426-2000
AskWCB@wcbranham.com
  • Blog
  • Downloads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Air Over Oil Intensifiers
  • Caliper Disc Brakes
  • Pneumatic Linear Actuators
  • Right Angle Gearboxes
  • Custom Products
  • Air Over Oil Intensifiers
    • Model 1777 - 5:1
    • Model 1781 - 9:1
    • Model 1778 - 10:1
    • Model 1780 - 18:1
    • Model 1779 - 20:1
    • Model 1782 - 36:1
    • OVLBOOST® 44mm 7:1
  • Caliper Disc Brakes
    • Pneumatic Brakes
    • Hydraulic Brakes
    • Mechanical Brakes
    • Pneumatic Spring Applied Brakes
    • Hydraulic Spring Applied Brakes
    • Dual Function Brakes
    • Brake Disc and Hub Assemblies
    • Brake Repair Kits and Spare Parts
  • Pneumatic Linear Actuators
    • OVLPRO® Low Profile Rod Air Cylinders
    • ARTEC® Standard Cylinders
    • ARTEC® Compact & Short Stroke Cylinders
    • ARTEC® Round Cylinders
    • ARTEC® Stainless Steel Cylinders
    • ARTEC® Stopper Cylinders
    • ARTEC® Pneumatic Grippers
    • ARTEC® Accessories
    • DURATRK® Band Type
    • MAGTEC® Magnetically Coupled Type
    • PNEU-SA® Enclosed Cable Type
    • Rodless Cable Air Cylinders
    • Guided Cable Air Cylinders
    • Single-Acting Cable Air Cylinders
    • Linear Tension Cable Air Cylinders
    • Branham Cylinder Repair Kits
  • Right Angle Gearboxes
    • MICROGEAR®
    • INCLUDE-A-SHAFT®
    • INSERT-A-SHAFT®
    • INSERT-A-SHAFT® METRIC
    • INSERT-A-SHAFT® CRL
    • INSERT-A-SHAFT® CRL Washdown
    • INSERT-A-SHAFT® Stainless Steel
    • GLIDE RIGHT™ Crossover
    • Spiral Bevel
    • Worm - BWG4™
  • Custom Products
  • Our Company
    • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Careers
    • Blog
Contact Us
Downloads FAQ Terms & Conditions Privacy
WC Branham
  • Air Over Oil Intensifiers
  • Caliper Disc Brakes
  • Pneumatic Linear Actuators
  • Right Angle Gearboxes
  • Custom Products

Not All ISO Cylinders Are Created Equal

Published by W.C. Branham on Nov 3 ,2022

If you’re an industrial equipment manufacturer, distributor, or customer that uses ISO cylinders, it’s important to note that not all ISO cylinders are exactly the same. That might seem surprising, considering that ISO certification assures that products conform to certain stringent requirements.  

ISO cylinders are, indeed, alike in form, fit, and function. They have the same key dimensions regardless of brand, so ISO designation indicates that “like” cylinders will all fit in the same space and perform the same function. However, there are four quality measures to look at when considering which manufacturer to go with: the types of seals, cap construction, and the materials used for both the pistons and the cushioning pins.

Quality Considerations for ISO Cylinders

No one wants to overpay for industrial components. But a cylinder that costs less upfront may not give you the long, consistent service life you expect and need. If it doesn’t, you’ll wind up paying more in the long run–so price should not be your only consideration.

Aside from cost, the ISO designation alone doesn’t guarantee you’re getting the best product. Cylinders are made up of multiple components. Here’s what you need to know to determine the quality of the cylinders you’re considering, which sometimes includes what’s inside. The information is not always available in the brand’s specs. If it’s not, be prepared with these things you should ask the manufacturer about.

1. The type of seals

What the material seals are made of determines how well they do their job and how long they last–two factors that are mission-critical for any equipment that uses actuators. In industrial settings, imperfect seals can allow contaminants to infiltrate the cylinder and/or allow lubricants to leak, potentially endangering both the equipment and the products being made. Look for seals made by a well-established company that uses time-proven materials for their seals.

2.   The structure of the caps

If the caps aren’t securely fastened, repeated operating cycles and vibration can weaken the attachment causing performance problems. It’s essential that caps have a solid structure, especially around the screw holes, with reinforcing ribbing or something similar that ensures the caps remain tightly secured to the cylinder under duress.

3.   Piston material

Pistons take the brunt of every stroke. The stronger and more durable the material, the longer the piston will last. Some ISO actuators use pistons made of a plastic compound, which is less expensive but also prone to breakage or quicker wear. Pistons made of aluminum are tougher and more durable.

4.   Cushioning pin material

Here, too, material directly affects longevity and overall cost-effectiveness. Cushioning pins absorb force so they have to be durable. While some ISO cylinders use cushioning pins made of nickel-plated aluminum or another material, the strongest material is nickel-plated steel. In harsh environments where corrosion resistance is also an important factor, only nickel-plated steel or stainless steel are advisable.

Manufacturing You Can Trust

ISO certification infers a certain level of trust–the reason the ISO system exists. But there’s more than that to finding the best product for your application. Customers have trusted W.C. Branham for decades to provide cylinders and other products that are consistently top quality.

If you need ISO cylinders or are considering switching to ISO cylinders for your applications, check out our line of Artec products. And if you have questions, we’re always here to answer them and help you explore solutions for your complex actuator needs.

cylinder force calculator

Tags: Cylinders, Actuators, ISO Cylinder
Back to Blog
  • Tweet

Subscribe here

Topics

  • Actuators (8)
  • Air Over Oil Intensifier (2)
  • Brakes (4)
  • Caliper Disc Brakes (30)
  • Custom Manufacturing (10)
  • Cylinder Repair (1)
  • Cylinders (14)
  • Food-Grade Applications (1)
  • Gearboxes (5)
  • Hyperloop (10)
  • Industrial Brakes (4)
  • ISO Cylinder (3)
  • Linear Brakes (1)
  • Pneumatic Actuators (61)
  • Pneumatic Cylinder (1)
  • Pneumatic Door Operators (5)
  • Right Angle Gearbox (26)
  • Videos (14)
  • Working at W.C. Branham (8)
  • Worm Gearbox (1)
see all topics

Top Posts

Related Articles

Product Spotlight: MAGTEC® Rodless Magnetically Coupled Cylinders

Let's talk MAGTEC. What is magnetic coupling, anyway? And when should you choose...
Read More

When to Choose the DURATRK DTFL Model Linear Guided Rodless Cylinder

Machine builders are being asked, or sometimes pushed, by their clients to do more, which means the...
Read More

[VIDEO] An Overview of Our DURATRK Rodless Cylinder Line

In this rodless cylinder video, our experts introduce you to Lanamatic: a Swiss manufacturer of ...
Read More
wcb-logo-reverse-vertical-tag-reg2

Products

  • Air Over Oil Intensifiers
  • Caliper Disc Brakes
  • Pneumatic Linear Actuators
  • Right Angle Gearboxes
  • Custom Products

Resources

  • Careers
  • Downloads
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • Contact
800-428-1974 (Toll-free US & Canada)
715-426-2000 (Main)
715-426-1400 (Fax)
AskWCB@wcbranham.com
W.C. Branham, Inc.
398 Troy Street
River Falls, WI 54022
© 2023 W.C. Branham, Inc. All rights reserved.   ARTEC® is a trademark of Artec S.R.L. Cento (FE) Italy