Universiti Malaysia Perlis

Centre of Diploma Studies

Program : Mechatronic Engineering

Code/Course : DNT 241 – Pneumatic & hydraulic
Item : Tutorial 2
Semester/session : 2/2017-2018
Remark :

1. In a production process as in Figure 1, workpieces are to be fed into a jig from a gravity
magazine by using a double acting cylinder. Feeding takes place when a push button is
pressed, and return automatically to its start position after the workpiece has reached the
jig position.

Figure 1

2. The allocating device supplies aluminium valve blanks to a machining station. By

operating a push button, the piston rod of the single-acting cylinder (1A) is made to
advance. After releasing the actuating button, the piston rod returns.
3. With the help of the vertical switching point, soft cool (lignite) briquettes are to be fed to
an upper or lower conveyor, according to selection.

The destination of the swiveling slide (upper or lower) is decided by means of a valve
with selector switch. The upward motion of the double-acting cylinder (1A) is to take
place in t1 = 3 seconds; the downward motion in t2 = 2.5 seconds. Pressure on both sides
of the piston is indicated. In the initial position, the cylinder assumes the retracted end
position.
4. The parcel separating device feeds parcel post from a sloping conveyor slide to an X-ray
appliance.

Operating a push button causes very rapid retraction of the single-acting cylinder (1A)
with the attached parcel tray. After releasing the valve actuator, the piston rod advances.
Forward motion time t = 0.9 seconds. A pressure gauge is fitted before and after the one-
way flow control valve.

5. Surveyor’s measuring rods in 3 or 5 m length are marked in red with 200 mm

graduations. There is a choice of two push buttons to start the forward movement of the
measuring rods via cylinder (1A), which has the exhaust air trottled. The idle stroke, also
started by a push button, can only take place when the double-acting cylinder (1A) has
reached its forward end position.
6. A double-acting (1A) guides cylinder pins towards a measuring device. The pins are
separated by means of a continuous to and from movement. The oscillating motion can
be started by means of a valve with selector switch.

The duration of the forward stroke of the cylinder is to be t1 = 0.6 seconds, the return
stroke t3 = 0.4 seconds. The cylinder is to remain in the forward end position for t2 = 1.0
seconds, resulting in a cycle time t4 = 2.0 seconds.
7. Bulk loose material is to be emptied from a dump hopper. By pressing a push button P1,
the dump hopper is tilted and the bulk loose materials are emptied out. By pressing
another push button P2, the dump hopper is returned to its initial position.

8. A heavy fire door is to be opened or closed by a double acting cylinder. The opening and
closing signals are to be given by a lever operated hand valve.

9. Describe some of the advantages of using pneumatics.

10. By pressing a push button, articles are pushed away from the gravity feed magazine into a
conveyor system. A single acting cylinder is to facilitate this. When the push button is
released, the piston rod returns to its start position.(reference SMC workbook)
11. Through operation of the push button on the actuating valve, metal stamping lying in
random position are sorted out and transferred to a second conveyor belt. The forward
motion of the piston rod of a single acting cylinder (1A) takes t = 0.4 seconds. When the
push button is released, the piston rod travels to the retracted end position. A pressure
gauge is fitted before and after the one-way flow control valve.

12. By using a diverting device, articles are to be moved from one conveyor to another
conveyor. Diverting device is pushed forward once the articles are in position by the
three sensors. After the diverting device has reached the forward end position, it is
automatically returned to its start position.
13. Operation of two identical valves by push button causes the forming tool of an edge
folding device to thrust downwards and fold over the edge of a flat sheet of cross
sectional area 40 x 5. If both or even just one push button is released, double-acting
cylinder (1A) slowly returns to the initial position. The cylinder pressures are indicated.
14. An electrically heated welding rail is pressed onto a rotatable cold drum by a double-
acting cylinder (1A) and welds a continuous plastic sheet into pieces of tubing. The
forward stroke is triggered by means of a push button. The maximum cylinder force is set
at 4 bar (=400 kPa) vis a pressure regulator with pressure gauge. (This prevents the
welding rail damaging the metal drum.) The return stroke is not initiated until the forward
end position has been acknowledged and the pressure in the piston area has reached 3 bar
(=300 kPa).

The supply air is restricted for the movement of the cylinder. The flow control should be
adjusted so that the pressure increase to P = 3 bar (=300 kPa) only takes place after t 1 = 3
seconds, after the cylinder has reached the forward end position (the foil edges which are
overlapped are welded by the heated welding rail as increased pressure is applied).

Restarting is only possible when the retracted end position has been reached and a time of
t2 = 2 seconds has elapsed. Reversing a 5/2 way valve with selector causes the control to
be switched to continuous cycle.
15. Using a rotary indexing table, parts are to be indexed out in sequence to next operation.
By pressing a START push button, the rotary table is indexed by the oscillating piston
rod of a cylinder via a stop pawl. When the STOP push button is pressed, this drive is
switched off. (SMC workbook)

16. The tested parts are distributed to three conveyors (Good, Reject, Rework). Shifting to
the required positions must be possible in any sequence by push buttons. (SMC
workbook)
17. Turned part for spark plugs are fed in pairs on a rail to a multi-spindle machining station.
In order to achieve separation, two double-acting cylinders are triggered by one actuator
in alternating push-pull rhythm. In the initial position, the upper cylinder (1A1) is
retracted, the lower cylinder (1A2) in the forward position. Turned parts are resting
against the second cylinder (1A2).

A starting signal causes cylinder (1A1) to advance and cylinder (1A2) to retract. Two
sparking plug blanks roll onto the machining station. After an adjustable time of t 1 = 1
second, cylinder (1A1) returns and cylinder (1A2) advances at the same time. A further
cycle can be started only when time interval t2 = 2 seconds has elapsed.

The circuit is switched on by means of a push button valve. A detented valve makes it
possible to change over from single to continuous cycle. The separating station must not
restart on its own after a power failure.

i. Draw the motion diagram of the process

ii. Draw a complete pneumatic system of the process
18. After the liquid paint colours have been poured together into a bucket, they are mixed in
by the vibrating machine.

When a push button has been pressed, the extended cylinder (1A) retracts completely and
executes a to and fro movement in the rear stroke range. The oscillating is limited to the
retracted end position by a roller lever valve as well as a second roller lever valve in the
central position. The frequency of oscillating is adjustable with limits by setting a
pressure regulator controlling the amount air supply. Set an operating pressure of P = 4
bar (=400 kPa)

After a specified interval, the oscillator is switched off. The double-acting cylinder
extends completely and actuates the third roller lever valve. Set a vibration time of t = 5
seconds.

19. Two double-acting cylinder (1A) and (2A) press together two electrically heated bars
and, in doing so, join two thermoplastic sheets by welding. The thickness of the sheets
varies between 1.5 mmm and 4 mm. The seams may be of any length. The piston force of
both cylinders is limited via a pressure regulator. Value set P = 4 bar.
By actuating a push button, two double-acting cylinders are made to advance in parallel
with their exhaust air restricted. To assist regulation, pressure gauges have been fitted
between the cylinders and the one way flow control valves. The end positions of the
cylinders are interrogated.
After a time of t = 1.5 seconds, the bar moves back to the initial position. The return
stroke may be instantly initiated by means of a second push button.
iii. Draw the motion diagram of the process
iv. Draw a complete pneumatic system of the process

20. When a push-button is operated, a pressure die-cast housing for a surveillance camera is
fed from a magazine to a machining station by a double-acting cylinder (1A) and
clamped. A double-acting cylinder (2A) then clamps the thin-walled housing from a
direction of 90˚ to the first cylinder. When the machining of the housing is finished, a
second push button is operated. This causes a return stroke of both cylinders in the
reverse sequence.
21. Two cylinders are used to transfer parts from a magazine onto a chute as shown in figure
below. When a push button is pressed, the first cylinder extends. Pushing the part from
the magazine and positions it in preparation for transfer by the second cylinder onto the
out feed chute. Once the part is transferred, the first cylinder retracts, followed by the
second. Confirmation of all extended and retracted positions are required.

i. Draw Displacement-Step Diagram for the system operation.

 ii. Develop a complete pneumatic circuit for this system using CASCADE method.

22. Products are required to be transferred from lower level conveyor to higher level
conveyor using two Pneumatic Cylinders. Lifting Cylinder A lifts the product on
receiving it at lower level. Shifting Cylinder B shifts the product from the platform to the
higher level Conveyor. Once the product is transferred, the lifting cylinder retracts,
followed by the shifting cylinder.

v. Draw the motion diagram of the process

vi. Draw a complete pneumatic system of the process

23. Rectangular parts are stamped on a special machine. The parts are taken from a gravity-
feed magazine and clamped by means of a cylinder A, stamped by a second cylinder B
and returned immediately then ejected by an ejector cylinder C. Once the cylinder C
retracts to its initial position, the cylinder A then retracts to its initial position. The start
signal is input by means of a start button.
 i. Draw the step diagram for the cylinders
ii. Design a pneumatic circuit for the system

24. Pieces of stainless steel sheet of 0.6 mm thickness are placed by hand into the input
station. After a valve has been operated by push button, the ejector cylinder (2A) retracts
with exhaust air restricted while, at the same time, clamping cylinder (1A) also advances
with its exhaust air restricted, the sieve blank is pushed along and clamped. During an
adjustable clamping time of t2 = 5 seconds, a laser cutting head produces a fine mesh
sieve. After this operation, the clamping cylinder is retracted without restriction,
following which the ejector cylinder pushes out the finished sieve rapidly.
25. Square steel end pieces are fed from a gravity magazine to a drilling machine, clamped,
machined and ejected.

A horizontally installed double-acting cylinder with exhaust air throttling (1A) pushes
end pieces out of a gravity feed magazine under the drilling spindle and holds them
clamped against the fixed stop. When the required clamping pressure of P = 4 bar (400
kPa) has been reached, the drilling spindle (2A) extends via the feed unit with the
pneumatic cushioning cylinder, exhaust air likewise throttled, for lowering the drill. The
maximum feed force is set via a pressure regulator. It is set to P = 5 bar (500 kPa). After
reaching the adjustable depth control stop established via a roller lever valve, the
unthrottled return stroke is commenced.

Completion of the return stroke causes the finished end pieces to be ejected by a single-
acting cylinder (3A). After a period of t = 1 second, the rapid return stroke of ejector
cylinder is commenced. When the ejector cylinder has reached the retracted end position,
a fourth roller lever valve is actuated; its signal can be used to indicate a new cycle.

The control system is set in operation by pressing the start button. To select continuous
cycle a detented valve is activated.