A pneumatic linear actuator uses compressed gas to move in a straight line. It has a piston inside a cylinder and can produce force based on the size of the piston and pressure of the gas. It is simple, fast, and used in manufacturing and safety devices, but lacks precision and lifting power.
A pneumatic linear actuator is a device that is powered by compressed gas and moves in a straight line. The operation of this type of actuator is different from a rotary actuator, which moves in a circle. Pneumatic actuators are sometimes called pneumatic cylinders. These devices are most often operated by pressurized air, although other compressible gases can also be used.
Compressed gases have been used to do work for many centuries. Some ancient cultures made use of simple bellows systems to pressurize air by hand and concentrated this air to help shape heated metal into shapes. It was not until the 1800s that the invention of electric air compressors allowed the pneumatic linear actuator to be widely used in industry.
Modern linear actuators work similar to hydraulic cylinders. A piston is housed inside a round cylinder. The piston is large enough to create a tight seal against the inside of the cylinder. As compressed gas is introduced into the base of the housing, the pressure forces the piston to rise. Pistons are usually attached to a straight rod, which can be used to move an object.
The amount of force a pneumatic linear actuator is capable of producing is related to the size of the piston and the pressure of the compressed gas. This means that by increasing the inlet air compression or piston width, the effective force of the actuator will increase. Pressure can often be adjusted during use, allowing you to create just the right amount of linear force.
In general, a pneumatic linear actuator is simple and clean. It is often able to move very fast which can be useful in some industrial applications. However, a pneumatic linear actuator has some disadvantages. Unlike similar hydraulic systems, they can be difficult to control with high precision and are unable to lift extremely heavy loads. These limitations are caused by the fact that the air in a cylinder compresses under load, while the hydraulic fluid does not.
Common uses for a pneumatic linear actuator include die casting and precision machining in manufacturing plants. They are also often used in safety devices and safety locks due to their fast reaction time. Due to their reliance on compressed air rather than electric motors, pneumatic actuators can be used in applications sensitive to magnetic interference, such as microchip manufacturing.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
