Cylinder Structure

1. Core structural components of the cylinder ‌
Cylinder barrel ‌
Cylindrical metal parts, the inner wall roughness must reach Ra0.8μm to ensure smooth movement of the piston.
The material is usually aluminum or carbon steel, and the inner diameter size directly affects the output force.
Some cylinders (such as engine cylinders) are equipped with cooling water jackets to dissipate heat.
‌Piston and piston rod ‌
The piston reciprocates in a straight line in the cylinder barrel, driven by compressed gas or springs.
Single-acting cylinders have a piston rod at only one end, while double-acting cylinders are driven by alternating air supply on both sides.
‌Seals and end caps ‌
Seals prevent gas leakage and are the key to ensuring gas pressure efficiency.
The end caps seal both ends of the cylinder barrel, and some designs include buffer mechanisms to reduce impact.
2. Additional structures of special types of cylinders ‌Diaphragm cylinders ‌
Using diaphragms instead of pistons has better sealing but short stroke and only one-way output force.
‌Swing cylinder‌

The interior is divided into two chambers by blades, and the output shaft is driven to swing by alternating air supply (the angle is usually <280°).
‌Air finger cylinder‌

It is used to clamp objects, and the clamping jaws are driven to move synchronously through a crank connecting rod or a gear mechanism. It is subdivided into parallel opening and closing, elbow swing and other types.
‌Impact cylinder‌

Three chambers are added, namely the air storage chamber, the head chamber and the tail chamber, and the piston is driven to move at high speed (10–20 m/s) by high-pressure gas.
3. Typical applications and design differences
‌Single-acting cylinder‌: It relies on springs or self-resetting, with a simple structure but limited output force.
‌Double-acting cylinder‌: Air supply on both sides can achieve two-way output, and a more complex sealing design is required.
‌Rodless cylinder‌ (magnetic/cable type): The piston rod is eliminated, which is suitable for scenes with limited space.