Available in 100-and 250-ft lengths, NITRA 16mm polyurethane tubing has a shore A 98 hardness rating, provides tight outside diameter tolerance and has superior kink resistance. The ether-based tubing provides excellent hydrolysis, oil and cold resistance. Available in four colors, 16mm polyurethane tubing starts at $114. A variety of 16mm push-to-connect fittings are also available.

NITRA brass adapter fittings and plugs are available in 10 different styles to meet most pneumatic applications such as air, water, oil, oxygen, nitrogen, and argon. Machined from yellow brass bar stock or forging, the fittings withstand pressure up to 800 psi. Designed with NPT threaded connections, male and female connectors are available in 1/8-to 1/2-in. sizes, in either two-pack or five-pack quantities.

Also added are quick-disconnect fittings which allow easy changing of tools or hose connections. Plugs and couplers, in 1/4.in and 3/8-in. sizes, are available in Industrial Interchange manual or automatic and universal automatic styles. Male and female fittings are NPT threaded and withstand pressure up to 250 psi. Swivel fittings made of chrome-plated steel with maximum pressure of 145 psi are also available.

NITRA aluminum manifolds withstand maximum pressure up to 500 psi and are available in two styles. Round manifolds feature one 3/8-in. NPT threaded input and either two or three 1/4-in. NPT outputs. Rectangular manifolds have 1/2-in. NPT inputs on either end and have either three or five 1/4-in. NPT outputs. Manifold prices start at $6.75.

NITRA blowguns (or nozzles) are available in heavy-duty palm type with safety tip, pistol grips (aluminum and plastic models), pocket, and plastic grip with flexible nozzles in various lengths. The blowguns have a maximum input pressure of 120 psi and start at $4.25. Additional NITRA accessories include 1/2-in. thread sealant tape and a 2-in. tubing cutter.

AutomationDirect

Pneumatic Tips

Precise
A number of forward-looking features ensure reliability and precision. The integrated fixed restrictor provides an effective safety buffer, protecting against overloading during high-speed gripper motions and preventing damage due to excessive forces. The integrated sensor slots in the medium and large sizes offer the advantage of cost-effective stroke sensing via sensors SMx. Their integration has resulted in a slim, compact design without any interference contours caused by external sensors. The new, compression spring-assisted gripping force retention provides more security in the event of a pressure failure. In addition, T-slot guides increase the torque resistance of the gripper jaws.

The double-acting piston drive gives the standard grippers stable kinematics and maximum repetition accuracy. A wide range of mounting options in the form of threaded, fitting and centering holes make the new generation of Festo standard grippers very flexible to mount.

Reliable
The parallel and three-point grippers DHxS have lightweight aluminium housing with integrated receiving hole for the pneumatic piston. The force generated by the linear motion is transferred to the low-backlash gripper jaws by means of lever kinematics. Since the lever is indirectly in mesh with the two gripper jaws via a piston rod, there is no need for additional synchronization.

The pneumatic pistons of the double-acting DHxS radial and angle grippers act on the gripper jaws, mounted on pivots in a gripper jaw guide, by means of a slotted guide system. As with parallel and three-point grippers, this means that there is no need for separate synchronization.

Festo Corp.

Pneumatic Tips

Ashcroft Inc.

Pneumatic Tips

• 12-point suspension of the friction plates or two-point suspension with lugs of the same or different lengths, giving flexibility for different applications
• Friction element selection, based on shape and material, to obtain the most effective service life with quiet operation under all conditions. The friction block version is to be recommended for machines with either high dynamic loading or load reversals under continuous operation
• Securing to the shaft or crank shaft can be with the aid of either keys or locking assemblies, these being fitted on the clutch side with series 0-420 and on the brake side with series 0-406
• Friction combination: Cast iron/organic friction lining or cast iron/friction block of organic friction material.

Air intake: Via rotary inlet through the shaft.

Application: On stamping and forming presses, on deepdrawing presses, embossing presses and similar machines.

Orrtech

Pneumatic Tips

As one of the CCEFP’s education and outreach projects, the micro-excavator was built and developed under the direction of Prof. John Lumkes at Purdue University. His project team has included a number of his engineering undergraduate and graduate students, most notably Jose Garcia, now a professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology; high school teachers in Project Lead The Way; and the staff of the Minnesota Science Museum. The National Fluid Power Association assisted the CCEFP in providing financial support.

“Based on our extensive field tests with students in and out of school settings, we know that the micro-excavator is an effective hands-on teaching tool that makes it fun to learn about engineering principles while seeing first-hand how fluid power technology works,” said Lumkes. The accompanying curriculum guide lays out effective strategies for maximizing the teaching power of the micro-excavator.

Fortunately, it’s easily replicated. A complete, working micro-excavator, either water hydraulics or pneumatics, can be built and readied for classrooms and hands-on displays for approximately $800. The kit includes a water pump, necessary power supplies, hardware (nuts, bolts, etc.), cylinders, valves, tubing, fittings, an excavator arm and a storage case. No special assembly tools are needed; the demonstrator is built using common shop tools (wrenches, screwdrivers, hacksaw and drill). A construction manual, bill of materials and curriculum guide for students in grades 8-12 are all posted at the CCEFP website (www.ccefp.org).

Electronically-controlled portable fluid power demonstrator.
Professor Lumkes and his team are interested in helping teachers incorporate micro-excavator models and the accompanying curriculum into their STEM programs. They would also welcome the opportunity to work with companies that could serve as donors/mentors in helping their local school districts acquire and use this new resource. For further information, e-mail Dr. Stelson, CCEFP Director (kstelson@umn.edu) or Dr. Lumkes at (lumkes@purdue.edu).

CCEFP

Pneumatic Tips

With the engineering software PositioningDrives, users require just a few key data in order to arrive at the right solution. Which electro-mechanical linear actuator best meets requirements? All that is needed is the input of position values, the payload and the installation position, and the software will suggest an optimized solution.

A common dimensioning process for mechanical drive and transmission components and motors prevents a duplication of safety factors, which would result in over-dimensioned electric drive systems and a waste of energy. Calculations have shown that with consistent use of Positioning Drives for dimensioning, energy costs can be reduced by up to 70%.

Correct dimensioning
A similar Festo dimensioning software program helps users select the right-sized pneumatic drive. Excessively large cylinders consume air unnecessarily, while cylinders that are too small need to be operated at the maximum permissible pressure. High system pressures waste money. Air consumption can also be reduced through the use of single-acting cylinders wherever possible.

When Festo dimensioning software is used for pneumatic dimensioning, simulations take the place of costly real-life testing of the entire pneumatic control chain. If a parameter is changed, the program automatically adapts all the other parameters. When users configure a pneumatic control chain, the program ensures that all the system components are the optimum size. This makes it possible to reduce pressure losses, pressure levels and tubing size. In the planning of the pneumatic system, short electric cables and compressed air lines help save energy.

A further factor in choosing a drive technology is that electrical systems can be overloaded for a short time only, while pneumatic systems can be overloaded over a longer period. It is therefore usually possible to use smaller sized components.

Festo Corp.

Pneumatic Tips

ROSS, headquartered in Troy, Mich., designs and manufactures precision pneumatic valves, control systems and related products. Since 1921, ROSS has offered these products to the general fluid power industry and industries as diverse as metal forming, aluminum, glass container, steel and safety.

DECCO, with a history dating to 1912, manufactures coils and solenoids for a broad range of industry-specific applications. DECCO maintains offices in Ferndale, Mich. and operates a coil winding facility in Frankfort, Mich. and a screw machining facility in Benzonia, Mich.

Growth and opportunity lie ahead. DECCO expands ROSS’ product portfolio and provides additional avenues for expansion into electronics. For DECCO, the ROSS group provides access to new and untapped global markets.

Over the next several months, teams will be working to optimize the collective strengths of the two companies.

ROSS Controls

DECCO

Pneumatic Tips

Engineered to perform in the most frigid environments, the 45-LT Series will continue to decelerate loads, prevent impact damage, reduce noise and improve product performance. The fluorosilicone accumulator and MIL5606 fluid help guarantee dependability in the coldest environments.

Technical data
Impact velocity range:
MC: 0.5 to 16.5 ft/sec (0.15 to 5 m/s)
MA: 0.5 to 16.5 ft/sec (0.15 to 5 m/s)
ML: 0.06 to 1.5 ft/sec (0.02 to 0.46 m/s)
Operating temperature range: -60° to 150°F (-50° to 66°C)
Operating fluid: MIL5606
Material: Steel with Weartec Plus finish. Piston rod high tensile steel, hardened and chrome plated. Rod end button hardened steel with black oxide finish. Zinc plated return spring. For optimum heat dissipation, do not paint shock absorber. Available in stainless steel.
Capacity rating: For emergency applications it is sometimes possible to exceed above maximum capacity ratings.

Ace Controls

Pneumatic Tips

The bonded elastomeric seat achieves excellent sealing ensuring smooth opening and fine control at low flow for millions of cycles. Also features 2% hysteresis, excellent linearity (2.5% of full scale), and 2 ms reaction time. A flow range of 0 to 300 slpm is standard, however this product is highly modifiable for OEM applications including alternate body materials, flow profiles, cartridge styles, manifold mounting, etc.

This valve is suitable for applications including medical, analytical, and industrial automation requiring high resolution, high flow, and low hysteresis. In addition, the design allows for custom flow profiles when required.

Clippard also provides custom solutions for specific needs, including special configurations, manifolds, and pneumatic products.

Clippard Instrument Laboratory Inc.

Pneumatic Tips

Safe, reliable and efficient pneumatic systems — Using ISO 4414 to design better pneumatic systems
Presenter: Gary Baumgardner, Chief Engineer, Parker Hannifin Corp.
The safety of those who work with and around machines is of ever-increasing importance in today’s business environment, as are the reliability and efficiency of those machines. ISO 4414, Pneumatic fluid power – General rules and safety requirements for systems and their components, provides guidance on how to design and build pneumatic systems that enhance a machine’s safety, reliability and efficiency. This is the first in a series of six webinars scheduled for 2012 to help people learn how to use standards to design and build better fluid power systems, presented by leading experts on those standards. These webinars will focus on key issues facing the fluid power industry today:

• increasing energy efficiency
• improving reliability
• reducing environmental impact
• ensuring system safety

These webinars are free to employees of NFPA members. For those from companies that are not members of NFPA, there is a $50 charge per webinar, or $200 charge for the series of six presentations.

National Fluid Power Association

Pneumatic Tips