Thread: Single or Double Acting air cylinders?

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been looking into both and understand how they work,

just not sure which is more common in prop-building..

what do you guys use?
thanks,
-ian

It really depends on your application or the effect you want to produce. I use the singles where I want something to move in one direction (extend) quickly and return (retract) slowly. I use doubles where I want quick movement out and back (like using small doubles on a bed frame or creature crate to make it jump up and down violently).

Always go with double acting. You get better speed control, they are cheaper, and better to work with. I have been building commercial haunted attractions and pneumatic props for quite a while and have never come across a situation where a single acting cylinder was what would work best.

Double acting seem to be the more common type. You get active control of the prop in both directions which is important in many applications. That being said double action means twice the plumbing and more expensive valves.

Go single action if you can, double action if you must.

SteveC

Originally Posted by ScaryTinker

Double acting seem to be the more common type. You get active control of the prop in both directions which is important in many applications. That being said double action means twice the plumbing and more expensive valves.

Go single action if you can, double action if you must.

SteveC

A 4 way valve is slightly more expensive than a 3 way, but you usually make up the cost with the price difference in cylinders. Double acting cylinders are less expensive because the manufacturer doesnt have to put a spring in there.

holy crap that was a quick response!!

thanks very much

right, so now is there a diagram somewhere that can help me figure out how to setup a double-acting circuit?

i need a different solenoid right? (will 3-way valve still work?)

I'm not too familiar with this 3 way/4 way designation of valves as its not an official designation system. I'm guessing that the 3 way is the 3/2 valve and the 4 way is the 5/3 (sometimes 4/3) valve

3/2 means 3 ports two positions and 5/3 means 5 ports 3 positions, if its a solenoid type valve the difference is that a 5/3 (or 4/3) has two solenoids whilst the 3/2 has only one

A 3/2 valve can be used to control a double acting cylinder, you just have to connect it right

A 4 way valve is what you will want to use to control a double acting cylinder. there are different varieties, but most common is a 5 port/4 way/2 position. There is a supply port which provides air to the valve, two out ports, commonly marked "a" and "b" and two exhaust ports commonly marked "ea" and "'eb".


Unless someone beats me to it I will post plumbing diagrams here tonight when I get to my home computer.