A cylinder is a cylindrical metal component that guides the piston in a straight reciprocating motion within the cylinder. The function of the cylinder is to convert the pressure energy of compressed air into mechanical energy, driving the mechanism to perform linear reciprocating, swinging, and rotating movements.

A cylinder is composed of a cylinder barrel, end cap, piston, piston rod, and sealing components. The working principle of a cylinder is that pressure air causes the piston to move, changing the direction of movement of the piston rod by changing the intake direction.

There are two types of cylinders that perform reciprocating linear motion and reciprocating oscillation. Cylinders that perform reciprocating linear motion can be divided into single acting cylinders, double acting cylinders, diaphragm type cylinders, and impact cylinders

1. Single acting cylinder: Only one end has a piston rod, which generates air pressure from one side of the piston through gas supply and energy accumulation. The air pressure pushes the piston to generate thrust and extends, and returns by spring or self weight;

2. Double acting cylinder: alternating air supply from both sides of the piston, outputting force in one or both directions;

3. Diaphragm type cylinder: Replace the piston with a diaphragm, output force in only one direction, and reset with a spring. Its sealing performance is good, but its stroke is short;

4. Impact cylinder: This is a new type of component. It converts the pressure energy of compressed gas into the kinetic energy of the high-speed motion of the piston (10-20 meters/second) to do work;

5. Rodless cylinder: A general term for a cylinder without a piston rod. There are two types of magnetic cylinders and cable cylinders.