Pneumatic Piston Control Optimization

Abstract Piston control can be applied to regulate position, speed, acceleration, and force. The primary distinction between pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders lies in the working fluid: hydraulic systems utilize practically incompressible fluid, whereas pneumatic systems use compressible gas. Consequently, hydraulic cylinders offer more precise control over position and speed. In contrast, pneumatic cylinders are more influenced by external loads. However, pneumatic systems are simpler, more cost-effective than hydraulic systems, and more commonly used in laboratories, workshops, and production lines. They are typically employed for end-to-end motions [1] without requiring precise position control within the stroke. If a method to control pneumatic cylinders for intermediate positions within the stroke were developed, their application could be significantly expanded. In the paper titled “Pneumatic Piston Control Modelling and Optimization,” a method for controlling pneumatic pistons for industrial applications is presented [2]. Since then, the initial modelling has been further developed through practical experiments and fine-tuning. This paper summarizes the modelling efforts and introduces the experimental results.