Cylinders with Guides

Cylinders with guides are actuators that incorporate the guide and cylinder into a single unit. A guide mechanism needs to be provided since piston rods can bend, rotate or buckle in response to forces such as lateral loads. Using a cylinder with a guide eliminates the need to provide a separate guide mechanism, improving accuracy and rigidity while saving space. The available guide types include linear guides used in combination with the cylinder, and twin rod cylinders that have 2 air-pressure cylinders incorporated into a single unit. When selecting cylinders with guides, the type should be selected to match the objective (positioning, direct diversion, lifting or the like). Other factors to consider when making the selection include the cylinder diameter, stroke and mounting method, as well as the installation location of the mounted equipment (such as a cleanroom or food processing plant).