General Guidelines for Pneumatic Cylinder Repair and Maintenance

Pneumatic cylinders are designed for industrial applications that require immense force and movement. They are primarily used in applications such as material handling, conveyor lines, punch presses, and automated equipment.

Cylinder downtime is a possibility in extremely demanding applications. However, it can be reduced by regularly performing cylinder maintenance and repair. However, there are various points that need to be kept in mind when performing the processes. We discuss the various pneumatic cylinder repair and maintenance points in this post.

General Pneumatic Cylinder Maintenance and Repair Points

The following are important points regarding the general maintenance and repair procedures for pneumatic cylinders.

• Turn off the Power Supply: Handling compressed air is dangerous, more so when the cylinder and its system is still connected to the power supply. Hence, the power supply must always be switched off, and the leftover air must be released into the atmosphere before any repair or maintenance procedures are performed.
• Check the Cylinder, Tube, and Rod Seal: The surface of the cylinder rod, cylinder tube, and the rod seal are the areas that are most prone to damage or rust. Hence, check all these parts for any kind of damage, or debilitation. If it is extensive, then replace the entire cylinder and its mounting components. Also, ensure that dust is never left on the outer surface air cylinder surface, or the mounting bracket.
• Lubricate the Seals and Other Components: When examining the cylinder and its components, check for the amount of lubrication present in the seals. Use grease packs if there isn’t sufficient lubrication. The following components of the pneumatic cylinder require lubrication.
  • Rod seal
  • Tube gaskets
  • Piston rod surface
  • Piston seal groove
  • Tube inner surface
  • Piston outer surface
  • Rod seal groove on the rod cover
  • Piston seal inner and outer surface
• Replace the Seals: If the seals are cracked, or are leaking air, then they will have to be replaced. The following points elaborate on the various steps to complete this task.
  • Use a vice to hold the tube cover in place. Use a spanner or a monkey wrench to loosen and remove the rod cover.
  • Begin disassembling the cylinder. Remove each part carefully, and use a clean cloth to remove the grease from each component. Place all the parts on a large, clean cloth.
  • Replace the old seals with the new ones. Ensure that they have been installed properly. Reassemble the cylinder. When you install the tube cover, ensure that it is slightly tighter than earlier.

When these steps have been completed, apply a small amount of operating pressure to the cylinder. Perform regular leakage and functionality tests. If the cylinder passes all the tests, reinstall it in the system.

These are the general guidelines used when maintaining and repairing pneumatic cylinders. Always ensure that you follow the maintenance instructions to the letter. Create a regular maintenance schedule to ensure that pneumatic cylinder will perform to specifications.