News Releases

July 2010

Tiniest pneumatic actuators squeeze more efficiency and savings out of tight spaces

Some of the world’s most compact pneumatic actuators are included in the latest Firestone Airstroke® ranges for production and materials handling machinery applications, including conveyors, metal fabrication plant, packaging lines and food and beverage production lines.

The three smallest Airstroke actuator groups from Air Springs Supply Pty Ltd extend in size down to the palm-sized M Series with extremely compact minimum (collapsed) height of fewer than 40mm and strokes up to 80mm.

The compact Airstroke range - in force capacities from 250kg to more than 900kg - is designed to be simpler and cheaper to engineer into demanding applications requiring smaller size with higher standards of simplicity, reliability and cleanliness, says Air Springs Supply National Manager Mr Simon Agar.

"These compact Airstrokes are identical in construction to the larger members of the Firestone Airstroke family in capacities up to 40,000kg, sharing their rugged and clean fabric-reinforced rubber construction that has been proven over millions of cyles in demanding applications throughout Australian industry." Also containing no internal moving parts to wear or break, making them suitable for use in heavily soiled areas, the compact Airstroke range includes:

• 1M1A rolling sleeve models with a minimum height of 38mm and 38mm maximum stroke. Long stroke IM1A-1 rolling sleeve types feature minimum height of 38mm and 60mm maximum stroke. A brass air intake is also available on the 1M1A-1 to provide additional protection against aggressive environments.
   
• 2M1A rolling sleeve models with a minimum height of 38mm and stroke of 80mm.Extra compact 2M2A rolling sleeve models feature a minimum height of 30mm and stroke of 40mm. Both the 1M and 2M series are suitable for applications where rapid cycling is required in light processing applications, such as conveyor gates and stamping and sealing operations involved in food, packaging and delicate manufactured products
   
• Model 16 single convoluted types with a minimum height of 48mm and stroke of 40mm. Extra compact longer-stroke Model 16-ST single convolutes have a minimum height of 38mm and stroke of 45mm. Model 16s offer higher forces and are suitable for pressing and quick change applications.
   
• Model 131 single convoluted types with 51mm minimum height and maximum 63mm stroke. The model 131, offering forces up to 900kg, is suitable for applications requiring higher stroke and rapid cycling.
   

All Airstrokes feature low air pressure requirements, which means they can be powered by the typical 7 bar (100psi) compressed air supplies commonly found in factories and workshops. They all have no internal rods, pistons, sliding seals, or other components that require lubrication or protection from dirt and grit in applications ranging from food and beverage production through to metal fabrication and forming. Airstroke actuators' reliability is further enhanced by their ability to bend through angles up to 27deg without the complexity of a clevis. They can also tolerate slightly off-centre loading without damage to the actuator. Their tough, clean fabric-reinforced rubber construction and lack of need for lubrication also makes them highly suitable for use in food and beverage production.

Airstrokes can also double as isolators, being part of a family of air springs that can achieve extraordinarily high vibration isolation efficiencies exceeding 99 per cent. Air springs have been used to isolate beds in operating theatres, for example, or floors of computer rooms where operators want to screen out vibration that can interfere with delicate electronic computerisation and automation equipment.

For more information about Air Springs Supply's national distribution and technical support network, please contact Air Springs Supply Pty Ltd, 10 Angas St, Meadowbank, Sydney 2114, ph (02) 9807 4077, fax (02) 9807 6979, sales@airsprings.com.au