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Team 3322

Pistons and Screws

Linear Motion Transfer

SEPT 2024

Pneumatic Cylinder

Pros Cons

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• Lightweight
• Easy to install
• Fast acting
• Simple to control

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• Only two positions
• Difficult to control speed
• Can be abrupt
• Piston may be simple,

but the linkages are Not

• Smooth
• Powerful
• Wide range of

speed/power options

• Very precise position control

• Secondary mount for

Drive motor

• Requires guide to keep

nut from rotating

• Requires precise alignment of all moving components

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Pneumatic Cylinder Basics

Motion of

the piston rod controlled by

air pressure

applied to the ports

Pneumatic Cylinder Control

Air flow to the ports is controlled by a solenoid valve

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Pictured solenoid

charges one side while

venting the other side

CKD Double Solenoid Valve

am-2342A

Pneumatic Control Schematic

Shuttle Valve

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P = Pressure Line

R = Relief Port

A -or- B = Working Line

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Common Applications

Simple repetitive movements,

like the intake

on an FRC Robot

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Notice the difference between extend and retract speeds!

Basic Lead Screw Setup

All the parts in

the diagram require precise alignment for this to work properly

How Fast?

Linear Speed of the nut determined by the Pitch

and RPM of the screw

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Steeper pitches utilize

multiple thread starts

https://makerstore.cc/product/8mm-metric-lead-screw-acme/

Common Applications

Milling Machine�-hidden inside the bed of a vertical mill

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-our milling machine uses hand wheels instead of motors

Common Applications

Z axis control on a CNC router

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-our router uses this arrangement

END