Rodless cylinders are pneumatic drives and – as the name suggests – do not require a piston rod. But even without a piston rod they perform a linear movement, which is why they are also called linear drives. Rodless cylinders are used wherever a short installation length is advantageous and where the force should be absorbed as consistently as possible. With strokes of up to 8.5 m, they also enable much longer travel distances – not feasible for a standard cylinder with a piston rod.
Rodless cylinders belong to the group of pneumatic cylinders that are operated using compressed air. They are used in a wide variety of pneumatic applications, for example in conveyor, drive or custom handling systems. Characteristic of mechanically coupled cylinders is that the power is transmitted via a lateral connection to the piston. A slit in the profile tube is required for this. With magnetically coupled cylinders, the force is transmitted using the magnetic field through a closed profile tube. In both variants, the required installation length is significantly less than that of a comparable piston rod cylinder.
The major advantages of cylinders without a piston rod are longer travel strokes and their shorter design, which is why they can be used in a particularly flexibly way. When space is tight, rodless cylinders are the go-to choice. Thanks to the existing mounting grooves on the mechanically coupled rodless cylinders on different sides, it is possible to set up modular components, such as brakes or sensors, directly on the cylinder itself. In addition to the high installation flexibility, an inner and an outer sealing band guarantee good sealing properties. This enables long strokes – without restrictions.