Hydraulic cylinders are popular in most industries for quite some time. Similar to other types of actuators these are equally critical for any company. It doesn’t matter whether you install a pneumatic or electric cylinder; all solve the same purpose of moving loads in a straight line. The common thing about hydraulic cylinders is that it used power in a pressurized liquid (usually oil) to create linear motion. In electric machines the power is generated through compressed air (also referred to as pneumatics) or electricity.
Installing a hydraulic cylinder has its own pros and cons but, as they say nothing is perfect we need to know both and accept it. Allow us to help you understand the merits and demerits of using these cylinders so that you are confident of your machine installation.
Advantages and disadvantages of installing a hydraulic cylinder:
Let’s get started with the positive side of these cylinders at first. You can also compare these advantages with other models of cylinders.
Advantages:
High energy capability:
Hydraulic cylinders have the power to deliver force with higher energy. It is one of these reasons why these are popular in many companies. In simple words, higher pressures allow more power and large forces in smaller cylinders.
Simple and compact design:
Most engineers are comfortable to install hydraulic cylinders due to their compact and simple design. Thus, the installation becomes convenient and so does the maintenance. If you visit any expert for guidance on hydraulic power, they will suggest you hydraulic cylinders only.
Affordable on the budget:
Another advantage to look at installing hydraulic cylinders is that these are pretty affordable on the price. If you compare the other models and types of cylinders, you will realize that these are pretty cheaper to install. Thus, you need to think on the budget and check if you can be flexible with it especially to follow maintenance program of hydraulic cylinders.
Disadvantages:
Limited control on movement and motion:
One major drawback of these cylinders is that they have limited motion control. Moreover, the performance completely relies on the efficiency and quality of the components. For instance, any wear in seals, leaks, and pressure may affect the force, position, and speed of the cylinder.
Inflexibility in operations:
Another demerit of using hydraulic system is the inflexibility of actuators. In short, these are not programmable. Any changes and variations may result in time-consuming adjustments by a skilled technician which may also add on the cost. For every change, you may have to seek technical support as these changes will be made manually. There is no system of auto-upgrade.
Heavy investment in maintenance:
This is a major challenge especially for companies with stricter budgets. Hydraulic cylinders may be economical to buy, but these can be high on maintenance. Due to manual installation, the components need be inspected frequently. Thus, the expenses can be considered regular. Moreover, for any replacement and repair work expect more money to spend.
There are some more points to look at. For instance, you need to be careful of temperature sensitivity. Extreme heat can destroy the seals of hydraulic cylinders and this will result in loss of pressure. On the other side, cold temperatures thicken the oil and make the response of the pressure slow.
We suggest you study your machine well and understand all the models available for hydraulic power. Clarify everything with a registered company like cylinders inc so that you are sure of your decision. We hope you are clear of the pros and cons of using hydraulic cylinders. For more details, connect with and qualified professional for expert guidance.
