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Different Types of Clamp Cylinder
Different Types of Clamp Cylinder
A clamp cylinder is a powerful tool that offers the best solution for clamping parts. If you are currently looking for the best clamp cylinder, there are actually several types that you can choose from.
Read on below to learn about the different types of clamping cylinders available in the market.
Block Cylinders
Block cylinders are not only used for clamping because these also come in handy for bending, riveting, pressing, and punching applications. These are available in several connection, stroke, and mounting arrangements.
Positive Clamping Cylinders
Conventional hydraulic workholding systems require either a continuous source of power or a special valving to retain clamping force.
Pull Cylinders
Pull cylinders are fitted with various plunger end-effectors and can be used for pulling parts into place, pulling them down, or pushing them with a clamp arm fitting. These pull cylinders are available in double and single-acting mounting styles and configurations.
A single-acting cylinder delivers hydraulic power in just one direction of travel and uses an internal spring for providing plunger return after the removal of hydraulic pressure. These cylinders require less plumbing and valving compared to double-acting cylinders. It results in minimal fixture congestion and a less complicated hydraulic circuit.
Unfortunately, these single-acting cylinders provide slower speeds of operation than their double-acting counterparts. In addition, the spring return also means that the hydraulic fluid should have an easy path of return with lesser restrictions and just several cylinders may retract at the same time.
On the other hand, a double-acting cylinder uses hydraulic power for moving the plunger in any direction, making them more complex. High-speed operation is the payback for the slightly more control and plumbing devices in any direction and the plunger’s precise control.
It is important if there is a need for greater control during the unclamp style. Double-acting cylinders also provide tighter control that helps when it is critical to time sequences since these have lesser sensitivity to system backpressure that may occur from several cylinders retracting at the same time or long tube lengths.
Pull Down Clamps
Pull-down clamps allow an unhindered top face machining. The independent vertical and horizontal movement achieve pull-down and high lateral forces to firmly hold the workpiece against the fixture. This pull-down force is equivalent to around 1/3 of the clamping force.
Swing Cylinders
Swing cylinders are no doubt the most commonly used hydraulic clamping cylinders. The swing cylinder’s plunger and the arm attached to it can rotate 90 degrees in a counterclockwise or clockwise direction at the stroke’s beginning portion.
These then travel down an extra distance to clamp against the fixtured portion. Once the clamping pressure is released, the clamp arm will raise and rotate back to 90 degrees in the reverse direction to allow removing the part and placing the next part.
Many swing cylinders are available in either double- or single-acting form. The stroke length is chosen based on the geometry of the part that will be clamped. The clamping force or capacity is chosen based on the machining forces that will be resisted. Different arm lengths provide design flexibility.
