Benefits and disadvantages of pneumatics
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Pneumatic systems are designs that use pressurized gas to power machines and tools. There are many disadvantages and advantages of pneumatic systems. Here is a short pro and con list comparison:
Source availability: Pneumatic systems require air to operate successfully. As a result of air being extremely abundant, and free, it is easy to restock the system.
Safety: As a result of pneumatic systems running on air, safety hazards are significantly reduced. There are limited occurrences of fires because air is non-flammable, and leakages in the system do not negatively effect the outside environment
Cost effectiveness: The initial cost of manufacturing a pneumatic device is minimal as a result of the low cost design materials. Plastics, zinc, and aluminum are all relatively affordable materials that are commonly found in pneumatic designs.
Cleanliness- As a result of the system being powered solely by air, the pneumatic device typically requires limited cleaning. Pressurized air constantly pushes out dirt or debris that get stuck in the system. If there is a blockage, the simplicity of the design also helps. Due to the limited amounts of tubes, the system can be easily disassembled and cleaned.
Maintenance- In order for the system to properly operate it must be lubricated with oil consistently but they have less plumbing than hydraulic systems.
Control and Speed- Air is a compressible gas, which makes control and speed in a pneumatic system more difficult, in comparison to electric or hydraulic systems. When specific speeds are needed, additional devices have to be attached to the pneumatic system in order to procure the desired result.
Maintenance- Pneumatic systems are less durable that hydraulic counterparts. Due to moisture accumulation the system can freeze up.
Safety: Pipes that feed the system air have the ability to move on uncontrollably on their own, which could cause serious injuries to those nearby
Environment suitability: Devices are known to fail over long periods of time due to the dampening of inside edges in the tubes. Additionally, systems cannot operate underwater and are sensitive to changing temperatures and vibrations
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Loudness: Pneumatic systems are the loudest type of designs that power machines. Actuators that run the system are the source of the noise and are sometimes placed in a separate room to limit sound pollution.
Toxins and chemicals: Sometimes, pneumatic systems use hazardous chemicals in their design. This can result in accidental launches of chemicals into the air, which can be harmful to the surrounding environment.
Choosing between electric actuators and other varieties can be difficult. Each type of actuator has its own advantages and disadvantages. Even more, one type of actuation is seldom a replacement for another. Generally, applications will greatly benefit from one type of actuation over all the others.
To make this choice a bit easier for you, this blog post will evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using electric actuators especially in terms of safety and energy savings.
Electric actuators provide extremely accurate control and positioning. In addition, this type of actuator helps adapt machines to flexible processes and has a low operating cost. This means that an electric system is energy efficient and can provide you with cost savings in many cases.
Electric actuation is the most efficient option when it comes to applications where multiple points of positioning are required. This is due to the fact that pneumatic cylinders need to be coupled with many accessories to perform these same types of motion. This leads to a higher cost and less accuracy and efficiency in the long run.
Another way in which electric actuators beat pneumatic or hydraulic actuators is in their ability to start and stop almost immediately on command. There is no delay and lag.
Pneumatic cylinders require that your compressor runs constantly to maintain pressure. Electric actuators, on the other hand, only need to run when work is required. This means saved electric costs for your business.
Electric actuation tends to be your best choice when your application requires speed, accuracy, flexibility, and control. Below are a few more key advantages of electric actuators.
It seems like electric actuation has many benefits. However, there have to be some disadvantages, right? Turns out that there are. One prominent disadvantage can be a higher initial equipment cost. Below, we listed a few more disadvantages for your knowledge.
Electric actuation has many advantages over hydraulic and pneumatic actuators. However, electric actuators have their own disadvantages. For help determining the right actuator for your application needs and requirements, we recommend contacting a specialist for help.
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