Question 1

Double-acting or single-acting — which do I need?

Accepted Answer

Double-acting cylinders are driven by air pressure in both extend and retract directions — the default for most automation duty, giving controlled force and speed both ways. Single-acting (spring-return) cylinders use air to drive one direction only, with a spring returning the piston — used where a fail-safe return position matters (the cylinder retracts or extends automatically on air-supply loss) or where only one working stroke needs powered force. Both are listed. State whether a defined fail-safe position on air loss is required — that alone usually decides between the two.

Question 2

Which mounting style suits my installation?

Accepted Answer

Basic/profile mounting uses the cylinder body's tie-rod or profile tapping directly. Foot mounting (LB) bolts through feet parallel to the cylinder axis, suited to rigid base-mounted installations. Front and rear flange mounting bolt through the cylinder end caps, for applications where axial thrust needs to transfer directly into a mating structure. Clevis (rear eye) and trunnion mountings allow the cylinder to pivot, needed wherever the load path isn't a straight line — lever-arm and swing-gate applications are the common case. All six are listed. State the load path geometry, not just "how it bolts on" — pivoting versus rigid mounting is the real decision.

Question 3

What does cushioning do, and do I need it?

Accepted Answer

Cushioning decelerates the piston near the end of its stroke to prevent a hard mechanical impact against the end cap — adjustable pneumatic cushioning lets you tune the deceleration profile; elastic (bumper) cushioning gives fixed, simpler shock absorption; no cushioning relies on the load itself or external stops to manage end-of-stroke impact. All three are listed. Specify cushioning wherever cycle speed, stroke length or load mass would otherwise produce a hard end-of-stroke impact — the higher the speed and mass, the more cushioning matters.

Question 4

How do I size bore and stroke for my application?

Accepted Answer

Bore determines force output at a given air pressure (force = pressure × piston area), and stroke is simply the travel distance your application needs. Listed bores run 32mm to 320mm and strokes 25mm to 1000mm on double-acting cylinders; single-acting spring-return tops out at 100mm bore and 200mm stroke in the current range. Calculate required force from your load, friction and any acceleration requirement, then select the bore that delivers that force at your available supply pressure, noting single-acting is only listed up to 100mm bore — oversizing wastes air consumption and increases cost, undersizing stalls under load. State your required force and available supply pressure, not just "the size that fits", in the enquiry.

Question 5

Why specify a magnetic piston?

Accepted Answer

A magnetic piston carries a built-in magnet that external reed or solid-state proximity switches, mounted on the cylinder body, can detect — giving position feedback (extended, retracted, or intermediate positions) to a PLC or control system without any internal wiring through the cylinder. Non-magnetic pistons are specified where position feedback isn't needed or where an external limit-switch arrangement is preferred. State whether your control system requires position feedback and how many sensing points you need.

Pneumatic Cylinders

About Pneumatic Cylinders

Specifying Pneumatic Cylinders: Action, Bore, Mounting and Cushioning

Converting air pressure to linear force

Action type is a safety and control decision, not just a mechanism choice

Bore and stroke, sized from the load, not the space available

Mounting follows the load path

Cushioning protects the cylinder from itself

Piston type for position feedback

Standards and interchangeability

From spec to RFQ

How Pneumatic Cylinders Work

Mechanism: compressed air converted directly into a push or pull

Industries served: automation, material handling and anywhere a line needs to move, clamp or lift without a hydraulic circuit's fluid risk

Standards landscape: an interchangeability standard, not a performance or safety code

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