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Pneumatic actuators, like most other manufactured components, follow a set of standards in sizing and configuration in order to establish safety, consistency, and interchangeability. In the United States, most cylinders follow NFPA (National Fluid Power Association) standard, while Europe follows the International Standard for Standardization (ISO). Both offer strict guidelines around sizing and functionality, but ISO relies on the metric system while NFPA uses the imperial system.
In 2022, Branham partnered with the European company ARTEC® to be able to distribute several types of ISO cylinders.
Artec delivers top-of-the-line performance with its short-stroke and compact ISO-certified cylinders. Some options include:
Crafted with precision and reliability in mind, these cylinders feature high-quality seals that prevent leakage and safeguard internal components from contaminants. This is vital as seals ensure proper pressure within the cylinder, which prevents leakage and protects the internal cylinder components from outside contaminants.
Procuring high-quality manufacturing components is becoming nearly impossible without also conceding to lengthy lead times. Distributors and OEMs sometimes feel that they must choose between first-rate products and getting those products in a reasonable enough time to satisfy their own customers and partnerships. Artec—a pioneer in the actuator manufacturing game–gives you both. Interested in how your pneumatic cylinders match up with Artec products? Check this pneumatic cylinder cross-reference guide to compare Artec cylinder models against competitor products.
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Pneumatic cylinders are common because many facilities already have airpower systems in place. However, there are other power options beyond airpower, including hydraulic and electric.
Linear actuators that use hydraulic fluid can generate a tremendous amount of force and hold it almost indefinitely because fluid is virtually incompressible. A hydraulic actuator can produce 25 times more force than a similarly sized pneumatic actuator. However, hydraulic power can also perform subtly because that same fluid incompressibility allows for precise linear control.
Not only can a hydraulic actuator dish out the force, but it can also stand up to shock loads as well as dirty or otherwise harsh working conditions. Like their pneumatic cousins, hydraulic linear actuators can be single- or double-acting.
Hydraulic Rod Linear:
It takes a lot of force to move, control, and hold the heaviest loads, and that’s where hydraulic rod actuators shine. Think elevator operation or a car carrier that has to lift and lower automobiles. Rod-style hydraulic cylinders can exert up to 5,000 psi (compared to a similar-sized pneumatic actuator that would provide just 100-200 psi).Hydraulic linear actuators are useful in a broad array of applications, especially in various forms of material handling. They can move loads forward and back, clamp, press, lift, turn, and rotate items. They can stop loads and ensure a no-fail hold. They are tough, reliable, and can be configured in many different ways to enable standardized equipment design. Perhaps surprisingly, hydraulic actuators can be quite compact and still deliver high-force performance.
You might think of them as the tortoise and pneumatic actuators as the more nimble hare.
Hydraulic systems can be self-contained, enabling mobility. This is why heavy-duty construction and shipyard equipment, forklifts, etc. use hydraulic actuators. In static manufacturing facilities, the system’s motor and pump can be located some distance away without sacrificing power.
Hydraulic systems require more maintenance than other types of actuators because there are more moving parts. Seals wear out and have to be replaced, and the potential of leaking fluid makes hydraulic cylinders inappropriate for applications where sanitation is critical such as clean rooms, food processing, and beauty product manufacturing.
Electric actuators use a motor as their power source, so the process is somewhat more complex. In most pneumatic and hydraulic actuators, pressure moves a piston that moves the load. In an electric actuator, there is no piston, there is either a screw or a belt (similar to the cable in other actuators). The electric motor activates gears, which turn the screw or drive the belt to move the load. That means the motor must be an integral part of the actuator set-up, which requires more space.
On the other hand, electricity is universally available, whereas compressed air or hydraulic fluid systems may not be.
Electric actuators are more expensive to buy than other types, but they are less expensive to operate. They can be used alone or grouped to perform multiple tasks in sequence such as reaching, lifting, tilting, or rotating. Both screw-driven and belt-driven electric linear actuators can provide high-speed, precise, repeatable position control. And they are strong. They can generate force between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds.
Electricity is infinitely scalable and controllable, so electric linear actuators are a great choice for applications that require extreme precision. They can also be programmed electronically for remote operation. Due to their motorized operation, they are best for situations that require only a few cylinders. However, they are very versatile, making them valuable for tasks such as material handling, robotics, operating cutting equipment, positioning solar panels, raising and lowering heavy, hard-to-reach windows, and opening and closing valves.
Electric linear actuators are completely sealed, so they are clean to operate. That makes them a good choice for sanitary environments such as the manufacturing of medical devices, semiconductors, and for food and beverage processing—applications where the process itself has to be pristine and where equipment is also subjected to harsh water and chemical washdown treatment.
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Because actuators go to the heart of the job, it can be virtually impossible (or impossibly expensive) to change them out once equipment is installed. That makes it all the more imperative that you make the right choices to begin with.
W.C. Branham manufactures several styles of pneumatic actuators, including our exclusive oval-bore model, as well as some types of hydraulic cylinders. All are available in numerous sizes and configurations. We’ve been in business for many years helping companies and design engineers find “solutions in motion” that exactly fit their needs. Visit our product page to learn more.
One thing we know for sure is that no two projects are the same. That’s why we don’t simply make and sell actuators, we provide as much advice and as many recommendations as you need. We are always happy to modify or completely custom-design a product.
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