Latest Fluid Actuators Technical Articles

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Identifying and Troubleshooting Pressure Changes in Fluid Systems

Pressures are always rising and falling in fluid systems. Sometimes the changes are extreme and lead to damage. What causes problematic pressure changes, and how can you trace them to their source?

November 15, 2023 by Damond Goodwin

The Art of Maintaining and Repairing Hydraulic Cylinders

Hydraulic cylinders and actuators can quickly move heavy objects and provide strong clamping forces. But when they break down, the effects can be catastrophic and the repairs costly and timely.

October 25, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich

Deep Dive into PLC Sequential Function Chart (SFC) Programming

Sequential function charts (SFCs) are a great tool when processes require sequence control, but things can get complicated fast. Here are some ways to create better SFC programs and applications.

August 31, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich

Wood You Look at That? The Incredible Automation Controlling Lumber Mills

From forest to felling, logging road to mill, finished lumber’s adventure on its way to market is filled with control and automation. Learn about the process from start to finish and how lumber mills ensure the world has access to high-quality lumber thanks to control technology.

August 14, 2023 by David Peterson

What Does ‘Explosion Proof’ Mean, and Who Should Care?

Some workplaces are more dangerous than others, not because of the practices, but rather the products. Where do explosions occur, and what practices exist to reduce such risk for equipment and workforce?

August 09, 2023 by David Peterson

Fundamentals of Directional Control Valves in Fluid Control Systems

Directional control valves (DCVs) come in many shapes and sizes for pneumatic and hydraulic applications. Learn to distinguish the different configurations and the meaning of external markings.

July 19, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich

Mechanisms Used in Robotic Compliance Devices

Compliance and compensator devices are used in processes where variation and uncertainty are prevalent. What sorts of compliance devices are used, and what distinct advantages are held by each?

July 05, 2023 by Seth Price

Fundamentals of Hydraulic Pumps: Types and Operating Principles

Hydraulic pumps take energy from a source, usually an electric motor or combustion engine, and turn it into a usable force to complete work. What kind of hydraulic pumps exist, and how do they work?

June 02, 2023 by Damond Goodwin

Introduction to Transfer Functions for Control System Analysis

Transfer functions allow systems to be converted from non-algebraic time measurement units into equations that can be solved, but how do these functions work, and why do we use them?

June 01, 2023 by Antonio Armenta

Pneumatic Cylinders Used for Industrial Automation

Engineers face a common challenge of moving objects from one point to another, especially in a production line. This article will introduce the pneumatic cylinder as used in industrial automation.

May 23, 2023 by Simon Mugo

Hydraulic Accumulators: What Are They and Why Do We Need Them?

Hydraulic systems suffer from pressure drops and energy loss whenever any fluid is in motion. Learn about these devices called ‘accumulators’. What are they, how do they work, and why do we need them?

May 08, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich

Fluid or Electric Power? Understanding Hydraulic and Pneumatic Motors

There are many different kinds of electric motors used for industrial power transfer, but there are also hydraulic and pneumatic motors that can lend advantages in some situations.

April 11, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich

Understanding Thermal and Pressure Safety Valves for Fluid Flow Systems

Safety is a concern in any system containing potential energy, whether electrical, chemical, or fluid. Each has methods of protection, and for fluid systems, certain shutoff valves are used in situations when excess pressure can be a problem.

March 20, 2023 by David Peterson

Not Just Another IIoT Article: MQTT for Pneumatic Cylinder Maintenance

IIoT is a daunting topic due to ambiguous interactions of hardware and software. This article outlines the basic steps to use an MQTT broker to collect the number of cycles from a pneumatic cylinder for PM software.

January 24, 2023 by Shawn Dietrich

Teardown: What’s Inside a Pneumatic Solenoid Valve Bank?

Air power drives a lot of modern equipment. Robot grippers, ejectors, actuators, and rotary tables are just a few of the devices controlled by air. What’s inside those banks of solenoid valves, and how do they work?

December 07, 2022 by David Peterson

Proportional Gain and Proportional Band Explained

Learn about proportional gain and proportional band, two key proportional control concepts, to better understand the most popular control system method in industrial automation.

November 01, 2022 by Antonio Armenta

Feedback for Fluid Cylinders: Bang Bang Control

Tracking the position of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is often accomplished at a basic precision level, detecting only end stop limits with discrete digital values… But what methods accomplish this?

October 17, 2022 by David Peterson

Life on the Farm: Cleaning Stalls, Milking Cows, and… Robots?

Learn how one small farm in a rural community is upgrading production with advanced technology in several ways to overcome staff shortages, product demand, and regulatory compliance.

October 11, 2022 by David Peterson

Collaborative Robot Cells: Simple and User-friendly Design Priorities

Learn about the common applications, programming procedures, and safety protocols of collaborative robot work cells, which are often simpler and less expensive than industrial robot work cells.  

July 25, 2022 by Damond Goodwin

Configuring a Network With Pneumatic Valve Manifolds

There are many distributed fieldbus capabilities for valve manifolds that can save on network overhead and wiring. In this article, we will look at PLC programming of fieldbus manifolds highlighting Festo's CPX layout.

June 29, 2022 by Shawn Dietrich