Standard cylinders ensure predictable costing

In mechanical engineering, anything outside of standard parts is always associated with high costs. Any component that cannot be bought “off the shelf” must be custom-made. This eliminates highly efficient production methods such as pressing, injection molding, or die casting. Where a series part is produced in seconds by a precisely designed production machine, a special part usually has to be manufactured manually by skilled workers. This applies to simple screws and bolts as well as to complex components like hydraulic cylinders.

Standard Cylinders with Applicable Standards

For hydraulic cylinders, a whole range of standards apply. First, they should comply with standard dimensions. By adhering to all external dimensions according to DIN 323 (Renard series, preferred numbers), the integration of the component into a machine’s assembly becomes significantly more efficient and simpler.

ISO 3322 specifies the nominal pressures for hydraulic cylinders. The diameters of cylinder bores and piston rods are regulated by DIN ISO 3320.

DIN ISO 4313 describes a preferred series for piston strokes. However, its observance and implementation have proven to be quite difficult.

Advantages of Standard Cylinders

This extensive standardization of hydraulic cylinders enables manufacturers to produce these components cost-effectively in series. Dealers can also use these standards to build a suitable catalog system, allowing customers to find their defined cylinders. The standards are broad enough that most hydraulic cylinders used in practice can be found within them.

Standardization also makes it quite easy to produce special sizes: Even if a customer requires a particularly long piston rod, for example, the rest of the hydraulic cylinder can still conform to standard sizes. The manufacturer can then reduce the need for special components to a minimum.

Determining a Standard Cylinder

Every standard cylinder offers performance within a specific range. The specifications for individual types are always maximum values. Working pressure, piston speed, or piston stroke are values that can always be varied downwards by the hydraulic system. If the installation space, necessary force, required stroke, and desired piston speed are fixed, the ideal cylinder can be calculated. The designer can thus approximate the ideal cylinder for their application as closely as possible. While this means the selected cylinder is always slightly oversized, the component always offers sufficient power reserves to effectively absorb pressure peaks in the hydraulic system.