The bore shape of a compact cylinder can make a big difference, in both performance and costs. With a traditional rod-style pneumatic cylinder, the rod is attached to a round piston inside a sealed tube, allowing the rod to extend and retract through a cap in one end of the tube with each stroke.
The problem is that the rod can rotate slightly as it slides because the round piston that it is connected to rotates. Rod rotation reduces the cylinder’s performance by pulling the intended thrusting force off-line. Over time, off-center loading can cause premature or uneven wear on the seals and rod bearings, or cause the rod and/or piston to bend. The cylinder can also fail if the rod de-threads from the piston.
In certain industrial applications, rod rotation can be an especially serious problem. One solution is a guided cylinder that uses guide rods and guide blocks mounted parallel to the piston rod to hold it in position as it strokes back and forth.
But Who Says Pneumatic Cylinder Rods Have to be Round?
W.C. Branham’s OVLPRO™ low profile rod cylinders provide an ingenious alternative, using an oval-shaped bore and rod instead. Oval bore compact cylinders offer multiple advantages.
- No worries about rotation:
The oval shape means the rod cannot rotate when extending or retracting.
- Greater durability and uptime:
Reducing risk of component damage or failure saves money and boosts productivity.
- Space savings:
The high-strength aluminum body has a lower profile than round bore cylinders and can be used flat or on its side, so it fits in more spaces and can be stackable.