EC: CRDSNU Stainless Steel Cylinder

Motion control: The CRDSNU stainless steel round pneumatic cylinder from Festo offers two unique and innovative design features that improve productivity, reduce operating costs, and extend the operating service life. This is a Control Engineering 2012 Engineers’ Choice finalist.

November 18, 2011

The CRDSNU stainless steel round pneumatic cylinder from Festo offers two unique and innovative design features That improve productivity, reduce installation and operating costs, and extend service life. Features include an air cushion design that adjusts automatically according to the size and speed of the load, and a rod wiper seal, which can operate without any lubrication. The self-adjusting cushioning is a new type of cushioning system that eliminates the need for manual adjustment. In principle, it works the same way as manually adjustable cushioning, but the cushioning chamber is not exhausted via an adjustable cross-section (needle valve adjusting screw) but via notches in the cushioning piston. Longitudinal slots integrated into the cushion piston make it possible to exhaust the air cushion independent of the cushioning length. The system employs innovative, patented air channel geometry to provide phased venting of the cushioning air.

The CRDSNU automatically adapts its characteristics to suit the cylinder’s prevailing load and speed conditions to provide optimum end-position cushioning. Without any need or possibility for manual adjustment, self-adjusting cushioning now ensures an optimum cushioning action every time, even if parameters such as friction and pressure change. This results in increased productivity due to optimal cycle times, and reduces the installation time required since no air cushioning adjustment is needed. It also reduces the acceleration forces acting on components and work-pieces. This reduces wear and minimizes time-consuming vibration. The innovative rod wiper seal design utilizes an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material reinforced with a stainless steel spring. The material provides high chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, a very low coefficient of friction, and FDA conformity. This makes it ideal for operating in wash-down environments (food, chemical, medical industries) where internal lubrication gets washed away, providing much longer service life compared to standard rod seals.

www.festo.com/us

www.festo.com/us/crdsnu

Festo Corp.

Return to the list of the 2012 Engineers’ Choice finalists.