[VIDEO] How to Size a Pneumatic Rodless Cylinder for Your Application

In order to properly size a pneumatic rodless cylinder for your next application, you must consider a few variables including; the moving orientation of the load and the guiding member that will be supporting and guiding the load. Those variables will determine the size, style and the installed options of the cylinder that you require.

Orientation of the Load

First you must consider the load that's being moved and its orientation. Is the load moving horizontal? Vertical? Or at an incline? What is the guiding member that will be supporting and guiding the load?

How Much Force Will Be Required

You must consider the coefficient of friction of the guiding member and use that to determine how much force the cylinder will be required to provide.

• Horizontal Application: LOAD x THE SLIDING COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION
• Vertical Application: The moving force required will be the full load weight.

Style of Cylinder

There are a number of styles of cylinders available today and each have their benefits. Some have a variety of guiding options available that can handle light to very heavy loads. Others offer a more economical choice by simply providing a moving force to move an already guided load. Once your moving force has been determined, you can consider the bore size of the cylinder required to provide that force. 

Pressure Available 

The other variable to determine the bore size of your cylinder is the pressure available to you. The bore size of the cylinder you choose in that bore area, times the pressure available, will give you the moving force. It's recommended to size your cylinder to have approximately 20% additional moving force than the load will require to account for losses.

Other Factors

If you have a high speed, high cycle application, it will be necessary to look into deceleration to make sure that the cylinder you have in mind has adequate internal cushioning to dampen the moving force at the end of the stroke. If not, then external shock absorbers will be necessary. For high cycle needs, determine if the cylinder’s bearings are adequate.

If your stroke is long, say three meters or more, then depending on whether or not the cylinder is guiding and supporting the load, additional cylinder mounting along the body length may be required.

It is important to consider all of these variables in choosing your next pneumatic rodless cylinder.