Designing hydraulic cylinders is a complicated process with many moving parts. You must consider many things when determining the best design for your hydraulic cylinders. Our team has created a hydraulic cylinder design guide to help you create the best solution for your application.

What to Consider When Designing Hydraulic Cylinders

Industry

Different industries require different hydraulic cylinder designs for different functions. When you consider the industry, you will need to be able to address the needs of your equipment. For example, you will need to consider the size of your equipment, if they need to pull, push, or lift, and the weight of the loads they will be responsible for moving.

Working Conditions

Some applications also include challenging working conditions. For example, in construction, agriculture, and mining, hydraulic cylinders will be exposed to the natural elements and various weather conditions. This means that the materials used must be able to withstand these environments and the design may need to be altered in order to accommodate the working conditions.

Customizing a Hydraulic Cylinder for Your Application

There are many parts of your hydraulic cylinders that you can customize. Let’s explore each of these aspects in detail.

Cylinder Type

Depending on the function needed for your hydraulic cylinder, there may be a few different types of cylinders that you can choose from:

Smart Cylinders: This type of cylinder consists of position sensors that give you valuable information about your system so you can improve safety and automation.
Single Acting: These cylinders only operate in one direction and are used for lifting, lowering, clamping, and punching.
Displacement: Oil displaces the cylinder rod to push on the outward stroke and the cylinder relies on the load or another force to return it to the closed position.
Rephasing: These cylinders contain built-in passages that allow fluid to bypass the piston when it is fully extended or retracted, allowing for multiple cylinders to be connected in a series.
Double Rod: This cylinder type allows for two working areas of the same size for both extending and retracting.
Cushion: Hydraulic cylinder cushions slow the speed of a cylinder piston before it reaches the end caps, preventing mechanical shock and reducing noise and vibration.
Telescopic: Often used in heavy-duty equipment with limited space, these cylinders can provide a long output from compacted retracted length.

Cylinder Bore

The diameter of the cylinder tube is extremely important to the function of the hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder bore helps you determine the piston area, maximum operating pressure, and the force the cylinder can exert. At Aurelius, we offer cylinder bores from 1 to 10 inches.

Rod Diameter

The rod diameter impacts the cylinder’s force and speed by reducing the effective piston area on the rod side of the cylinder. You can reduce the cylinder force on the pull of the cylinder by implementing a larger rod diameter and increasing cylinder force with a smaller rod diameter. Aurelius Manufacturing offers a wide range of rod diameters from ⅜ to 5 inches.

Stroke Length

The stroke length indicates the speed and size of the hydraulic cylinder. This is a measurement of how far the piston has to travel within its tube from the closed to open position. There are many stroke lengths on the market, and Aurelius offers a wide range from 0 to 20 feet.

Operating Pressure

Each hydraulic cylinder application requires different operation pressures. At Aurelius Manufacturing, we work with a wide range of operating pressures. Our team can work with operating pressures up to 500 PSI.

Need Custom Hydraulic Cylinders? Contact Aurelius Today

At Aurelius Manufacturing, we have over 40 years of experience manufacturing various custom hydraulic cylinders for a wide range of industries. We can customize nearly any type of hydraulic cylinder to meet your exact specifications and needs.

Our team believes that quality is of the utmost importance. We work with you to resolve any issues and deliver the service life and performance you need. We also practice collaborative design so your solutions are specific to your needs.
If you are ready to create the custom hydraulic cylinder you need, contact our team today.