I have redesigned a bulk bag (500 kg) discharger massager, and have really had it with local suppliers.
The massager is essentially a couple of plates that pivot and squeeze the bag to kelp the product flow from the bag.
Now, after much dicussion with one supplier, I checked availability and was assured they had 9 off 100 mm bore by 320 stroke cylinders in stock. I gave them key criteria as to the closed length clevis:clevis of 630 mm, and a minimum stroke of 250 mm. I told them that we were prepared to accept the 320 stroke as even though it was more than needed, it would not be an issue. This was all required urgently (yes, our fault), but they indicated they understood and were happy to help.
Well, the cylinders were picked up after I left for the day, and it was all in a sealed box. When the installers came in the next day (they worked over the weekend), they discovered, that of the 3 cylinders, there were 2 off 80 mm bore x 250 stroke, and 1 off 100 mm bore and 320 stroke. Just to make things worse, the cylinder end fittings were not the ones we were told we were getting and so the lugs we had made and welded in place were too thick and the hole was 16 mm dia instead of 20 mm dia!
The installers worked with what they had because it was the weekend. As a result we have the line of action of the cylinder passing roughly 100 mm above the pivot point for the massager plates, so the action will cause the plates to rise as we want, however the lever arm is not as I had designed.
So, does anyone know of cylinder manufacturers who are in Australia, or who are willing to sell into here? Amazingly, Australian industry wonders why business is reluctant to use them!
SMC supplied the incorrect cylinders, and Festo have not bothered to respond.
Not all are bad. I completed an online enquiry with Norgren just around 10 minutes ago, and just received a callback telling me they will be posting out the information. Hopefully they will make their data more readily available online.
Thanks. ■
[I]Ian A. White, MIEAust. CPEng. RPEQ WAI Engineering [URL="http://www.wai.com.au"]www.wai.com.au[/URL][/I]
Pneumatic Cylinders - Australia?
G'day,
Hope this is the right area for this.
I have redesigned a bulk bag (500 kg) discharger massager, and have really had it with local suppliers.
The massager is essentially a couple of plates that pivot and squeeze the bag to kelp the product flow from the bag.
Now, after much dicussion with one supplier, I checked availability and was assured they had 9 off 100 mm bore by 320 stroke cylinders in stock. I gave them key criteria as to the closed length clevis:clevis of 630 mm, and a minimum stroke of 250 mm. I told them that we were prepared to accept the 320 stroke as even though it was more than needed, it would not be an issue. This was all required urgently (yes, our fault), but they indicated they understood and were happy to help.
Well, the cylinders were picked up after I left for the day, and it was all in a sealed box. When the installers came in the next day (they worked over the weekend), they discovered, that of the 3 cylinders, there were 2 off 80 mm bore x 250 stroke, and 1 off 100 mm bore and 320 stroke. Just to make things worse, the cylinder end fittings were not the ones we were told we were getting and so the lugs we had made and welded in place were too thick and the hole was 16 mm dia instead of 20 mm dia!
The installers worked with what they had because it was the weekend. As a result we have the line of action of the cylinder passing roughly 100 mm above the pivot point for the massager plates, so the action will cause the plates to rise as we want, however the lever arm is not as I had designed.
So, does anyone know of cylinder manufacturers who are in Australia, or who are willing to sell into here? Amazingly, Australian industry wonders why business is reluctant to use them!
SMC supplied the incorrect cylinders, and Festo have not bothered to respond.
Not all are bad. I completed an online enquiry with Norgren just around 10 minutes ago, and just received a callback telling me they will be posting out the information. Hopefully they will make their data more readily available online.
Thanks. ■