pneumatic usage question

[RMiller]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Find the volume of your storage (small storage tanks from the past were 18.85)
Multiply by the amount of air pressure. 18.85 x 120 psi = 2262 working units. Find the volume of your cylinder (2"dia with 4" stroke = 12.56)
Multiply by working pressure of 60psi = 753 units

So one extension and retraction would use 1506 of you 2262 working units.

You can see from this simple example figuring pneumatics isn't too difficult.

Make yourself a spread sheet and go to work. You should also figure out how fast your compressor of choice can replace your working units.

Two notes: In this case, without the compressor, you will not actually reach 60 psi in the cylinder on the retraction. Instead, it will be about 48 psi - across the entire system).

Note, that the working pressure IndySam is the maximum allowed. If a lower pressure can be used, you will get more extensions and retractions of you pneumatic for the same amount of air.

Like IndySam said, make a spreadsheet and see what your numbers are.