Compact cylinders are precision pneumatic actuators built to maximize productivity within a limited amount of space. Like all air cylinders, these mechanisms utilize pressure differentials in order to convert compressed air energy into mechanical energy. This energy is put to work in a number of industrial and commercial applications. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Airpot® Corporation
Norwalk, CT | 800-848-7681The Airpel® Anti-Stiction® instrument-quality air cylinders from Airpot feature ultra-smooth, lubrication-free clean operations over extreme temperature ranges, responding to as little as 0.2 PSI differential from full vacuum to 100 PSI. Ideal for precise control of sensitive mechanisms.
Cylinders & Valves, Inc.
Strongsville, OH | 440-238-7343Since 1958, Cylinders & Valves, Inc. has been a custom manufacturer and supplier of high quality air cylinders and accompanying valves. We service the U.S., Canada and International Markets. Some of the industries we serve include Government, Military, Tire and Rubber, Bottling and OEMs. With wide range of air cylinders, our customers always find what they need. Contact our company today!
Pearl Technologies, Inc.
Savannah, NY | 315-365-3742Pearl Technologies manufactures an innovative line of patented wear strips to meet or exceed your expectations. Pearl's products include a variety of air cylinders (rebuildable, rotating, high speed), hole punches and adapters, splicing adhesive and more. Contact us today for more information!
JIT Cylinders, Inc.
Hartselle, AL | 256-751-2548JIT Cylinders designs and manufactures NFPA tie-rod and custom industrial hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders. Bore sizes range from 5/16" to 30" and pressures up to 15,000 psi. With more than 100 years of manufacturing experience, we deliver consistent quality to meet your requirements.
Hanna Cylinders Co.
Pleasant Prairie, WI | 847-990-7700Over 100 years of experience for all of today’s heavy duty hydraulic cylinder demands: nuclear valve actuation, military, construction, mining, material handling, marine, off-shore drilling, industrial presses, rotating cylinders, mill-type cylinders – all your specialty, custom engineered cylinders plus cylinder repair.
Compact Air Cylinders - PHD, Inc.Automotive, building, construction, food processing and packaging, metal working, mining, construction, textile and forestry industries all utilize compact cylinders as actuators for valves, lift gates, hoists, machines, jacks, motors, doors and equipment components. Because these mechanisms use only compressed air to open, close, push, pull and lift variable loads, they provide an economic and environmentally friendly solution to many mechanical operations.
Compact cylinders provide even further benefits as they are often as much as 60% smaller than comparable traditional alternatives and are therefore easily integrated into pre-existing workspaces or areas where space is at a premium. The significantly smaller size corresponds to the stroke of the cylinder.
Compact Air Cylinders - PHD, Inc.Stroke is a measure of the difference in length between fully extended and fully retracted piston positions. Smaller strokes also result in increased speed and efficiency as the pistons travel a shorter distance. As this is such an influential measure, compact actuators are sometimes referred to as "short stroke cylinders."
While many compact cylinder models use traditional single acting and double acting cylinder designs, the majority are rodless cylinders. While traditional compacts are just miniaturized, rodless designs reduce size without decreasing capabilities by simply eliminating the need for room to fully extend the piston rod beyond the length of the shaft.
Rack and pinion or cable cylinders are among the most common types of compact actuators. Both types have circular or rectangular cylinder with an air valve, for inlet and exhaust, located at one or both ends. In a rack and pinion system, this shaft houses two pistons. A toothed rack and pinion are located between these pistons.
When air is introduced into either end of the closed cylinder, the corresponding piston pushes the rack in the opposite direction. The pinion rolls along the rack creating rotation. This movement is transferred from the pinion to a connected shaft that protrudes from the shaft and connects to the tooling or load. Four piston rack and pinion cylinders are available and function in the same manner but are cube shaped.
Alternatively, cable cylinders operate with a pulley system. A cable is connected to the central piston and extends out one end of the shaft where it winds around two or more pulleys before circling around through the other endcap. A carriage, to which the intended load is attached, is located in a fixed position on the exterior portion of the cable.
Compressed air forced into the cylinder moves the piston which in turn rotates the cable. As capabilities differ significantly, it is important to carefully compare compact cylinder capabilities to the requirements of a specific application.