Innovative Air Cushion Solution Improves Productivity and Machine Reliability and Saves Money

White Paper: Innovative Air Cushion Solution Improves Productivity and Machine Reliability and Saves Money

By Michael Guelker, Product Manager – Pneumatic Actuators

New air cushioning solution for pneumatic actuators automatically adjusts the amount of air cushioning depending on the impact energy (speed, load), thus increasing overall productivity and reducing maintenance costs.

A common goal throughout the business world is to increase productivity while reducing costs. This certainly applies to machine design, which means achieving the fastest possible cycle times. For pneumatic systems, this often requires running actuators as fast as possible without introducing excessive shock loads to the system. To help reduce the impact energy of an actuator, there are two common types of integrated cushioning – bumpers and air cushioning. Flexible bumpers are generally made of an elastomer material and incorporated as part of the piston or end cap. They are effective at reducing impact noise, however they can only absorb small amounts of energy so they are limited to slow speed, small load, or short stroke applications.

When operating with higher loads and speeds, you must use additional cushioning in order to avoid premature damage to the cylinder and machine. Designers generally use air cushioning for end-ofstroke damping in these situations. The air cushioning needle valve needs to be adjusted according to the cylinder’s operating pressure, speed, and load. This requires the time of 1 or 2 experienced maintenance people, which is costly. If there are any changes to the air pressure, speed, or load then the air cushioning needs to be re-adjusted, otherwise you may experience slower cycle times and increased shock and vibration which will cause premature failure of the cylinder and potentially other components on the machine. This reduces productivity and costs money so it would be advantageous if this can be avoided.

A new air cushioning solution has been developed by Festo which automatically adjusts the amount of air cushioning depending on the impact energy (speed, load), thus increasing overall productivity and reducing maintenance costs. Before we review the details of the design and operation of the new self-adjusting air cushioning, we will look at the principles behind air cushioning and the operation of typical adjustable air cushioning. Air cushions are variable-orifice air dashpots. A spud on either side of the cylinder piston closes off the passage to the main piston chamber. This traps air in the cylinder end cap and bleeds it off through a small passage controlled by a needle valve. The cylinder traps a fixed volume of air each cycle but because air is highly compressible, the load, velocity, and air pressure in the cylinder all affect air-cushion performance.

For any given set of conditions there is generally only a small window of needle-valve adjustments which provide optimal cushioning. Closing the needle valve too far results in high initial reaction force, which slows the load too quickly. This may cause end of stroke bounce, which is when the piston changes direction multiple times as deceleration progresses, causing vibration and a longer cycle time. If the needle-valve is open too far, the trapped air does not create sufficient back pressure. The load reaches the end of stroke too quickly and causes an impact between piston and end cap. Furthermore, once the needle-valve is properly set, any change in weight, system pressure, or velocity affects cushion reaction, and means the valve must be readjusted.

Improperly adjusted air cushion (Left):

End position cushioning which is poorly adjusted, or not adjusted at all, causes fluctuation in the pressure curve and thus oscillation during travel into the end position.

Properly adjusted air cushion (Right):

Properly adjusted end position cushioning assures quick pressure build-up, causing the disproportionate deceleration of the piston. Self-adjusting cushioning is a new type of cushioning system that eliminates the need for manual adjustment of the cushioning. In principle, it works the same way as manually adjustable cushioning.

The cushioning chamber is not exhausted via an adjustable cross-section (PPV adjusting screw) but via notches in the cushioning piston. The know-how lies in the geometry of these notches. 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 system automatically adapts its characteristics to suit the cylinder’s prevailing load and speed conditions to provide optimum end-position cushioning. Because the exhaust flow of the pneumatic cushioning chamber changes over the damping stroke, it works with most commonly permissible speed and mass combinations, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. 

Adjustable cushioning (Right)

The throttling port (2) is adjustable, but constant along the whole length of the cushioning piston and has to be adjusted in accordance to the cylinder speed (1). For all different adjustments the cushioning length is constant.

 Self-adjusting cushioning

The throttle cross section (3) diminishes along the cushioning piston. The cushioning piston begins to work if the throttle cross section at the cushioning piston is smaller than the throttle cross section (1) at the speed control valve. That means that the effective cushioning length depends on the cylinder speed. Higher speed means higher kinetic energy and a longer cushioning length.

Principle of Self-Adjusting Air Cushion (Left)

The throttle cross section at the beginning (1) defines the maximum allowable speed of the cylinder. It has to be as big as possible. Because the cushioning pistons are very thin, rectangular cross sections are the best solution. They reach a big volume with a small depth. The throttle cross section at the end of the cushioning (2) defines the minimum allowable speed where a cushioning effect can be reached. This throttle cross section has to be as small as possible. Cross sections with the shape of a V are the best solution, because they can be manufactured deeper.

 Self-adjusting cushion (Right):

Relatively constant deceleration, and thus gentle travel into the end position, resulting from the constant pressure curve. The advantages of self-adjusting end-position cushioning are considerable. Manually adjusting the end-position damping of linear actuators is timeconsuming and can only be done effectively once the actuator is installed and under operating load conditions. By then the automation supplier is invariably under pressure to complete the task as quickly as possible

It also frequently involves two people – one to operate the appropriate pneumatic valve, the other to adjust the actuator’s damping characteristics. As with all moving parts, access can be potentially hazardous, which 

means that safety considerations dictate that only experienced personnel should perform these adjustments. Actuators are often less than perfectly adjusted, with under-damping resulting in higher end-position impacts, higher noise levels and increased wear, or with over-damping resulting in increased machine cycle times. We can estimate that, on average, the self-adjusting end-position cushioning system will help users save five minutes from a cylinder’s installation and set-up time.

For a typical application, such as a package sorting system with 60 cylinder-driven routing stations, this would result in savings of five manhours. Self-adjusting end-position cushioning is a ‘fit and forget’ product feature. Since it has no settings to change, it is completely tamper-proof and it offers a long, maintenance-free service life. Without any need for manual interventions, self-adjusting cushioning now ensures an optimum cushioning action every time, even if parameters such as friction and pressure change. It also reduces the acceleration forces acting on components and work-pieces.

This reduces wear and minimizes time consuming vibration. This unique cushioning, not offered by any other supplier, is now available with the Festo round cylinder DSNU, as well as the compact cylinder ADN, among others..

Advantages: no manual adjustment is required, responds automatically to load and speed changes. Customers enjoy the following advantages:

• Time saving (economy)

No need for manual adjustment of the cushioning.

• Accessibility (convenience, economy)

Once cylinders have been installed, carrying out cushion adjustments in a confined area is often a problem.

• Consistent cushioning quality (safety)

Self-adjusting cushioning always deliver the same optimum performance. There are none of the variations that can occur with PPV when these are adjusted by different people.

Other arguments in favor of self-adjusting air

cushioning

• Cannot be varied by machine operator, which means no possible malfunctions.
• Long service life, thanks to optimum cushioning setting, not only for cylinders but for entire installations.
• Optimum cushioning even with varying mass/pressure within permissible range.

Disadvantages: cannot be used when the cylinder is operated at its limits (heavy loads, very high or low speeds).

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