When moving light loads in only one direction, use single acting cylinders to save money.

Rebroadcast: NFPA Aluminum & Steel Cylinders PDF

Two-way valves turn air on and off in applications such as shop air, branch airlines, supply pressure to systems, and supply air to tools, motors, and similar equipment. You can also use two-way valves as vent valves.

Prospector Series Poppet Valves PDF

To electronically sense end of stroke positioning, request a magnetic piston on the cylinder and use external reed switches.

Series 90000 Compact Actuators PDF (0.4mb)

A valve with a Cv = 1, with a 10psig pressure drop, will flow approximately 30scfm. Therefore a valve with a Cv = 0.5, with a 10psig pressure drop, will flow approximately 15scfm.

Valve Manifolds VS45 Series Spec Sheet PDF (0.2mb)

For high speed, high impact applications, consider the Ecology seal with integral fixed cushions. This technology will considerably dampen the impact at the end of stroke, reducing machine vibration, and as a result, preserve the life of the actuator as well as peripheral machine components.

Norgren Ecology Cylinders Spec Sheet (0.2mb)

Trouble with your solenoid pilot valve shifting? Check these common issues first:

1. Is the valve receiving pilot air, either internal or external?
   
2. Is the pilot air higher than the minimum operating pressure required for the solenoid pilot?
   
3. Is the solenoid pilot exhaust blocked or plugged?
   
4. Does the valve have a locking override and is it engaged?
   
5. Is the electrical connector firmly secured to the valve?
   
6. Is the connector receiving the correct voltage?
   

If you are having trouble in determining why your valve won't shift, contact our applications engineering department at 303-794-2611.

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For applications requiring extremely smooth, controlled movement, consider an air over oil system, available in linear or rotary actuators.

Excel File Download: Norgren Product Sizing Calculations Chart (0.2mb)

Have you ever wondered what the ISO symbol on your Norgren valve means? Below is the common port identification for a 5 port/2 position:

Norgren ISO Star Series Valves Spec Sheet 8-page pdf (0.4mb)

For a given element size, the smaller the micron rating the higher the pressure drop across a filter. The service life between cleaning is also less for the smaller micron filters, as the filter matrix may fill more quickly than larger micron rated elements.

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Selecting the correct actuator type (e.g. NFPA, Tie Rod, Rodless, Roundline, Non-rotating, etc.) will optimize application efficiency, effectively saving you time and money.

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3-position valves should be held energized except during jog or emergency stop conditions. This maintains full pressure on one end of the cylinder to provide full force and prevent drifting.

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Automatic drains should be used where the filter location may make servicing difficult, where filters may be hidden from view and consequently be overlooked, or where equipment is in continual use. Areas where large quantities of liquid accumulate over a short period of time should also be equipped with auto-drain filters.

High labor costs for draining a large number of filters manually will generally justify the use of auto drains.

Design Manual for Machine Lubrication 32-page pdf (0.4mb)

To properly size a pneumatic cylinder for an application, calculate the required bore size, rod diameter, and potential stop tube length.

Properly sizing the cylinder will conserve compressed air and preserve the life of the actuator.

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Need a quick checklist for sizing valves?

Consider these: the application, valve type, function, pressure, flow, electrical requirements, ambient conditions, port size, fluid, response time, duty cycle, operator type, expected life, lubed vs. non-lubed, piped exhaust, and wiring options.

Norgren Solutions Manual 36-page pdf (0.45mb)

Many compressors use direct lubrication to mechanically compress gas, which in turn creates two types of oil, oil droplets and oil mist, which typically flows downstream where the compressed gas is used. This can be detrimental to the end application and/or process.

Excelon Pro Coalescing Filter Data Sheet 2-page pdf (0.1mb)

When applying a pneumatic cylinder in a caustic environment, consider the use of alternate materials or coatings to prevent corrosion and extend the life of the cylinder.

A wide variety of options are available, such as raw aluminum; clear, hardcoat, or black anodizing; electroless nickel or Nituff plating; 303, 304, or 316 stainless steel; and plastics.

Hydraulics & Pneumatics Pressure Switch Applications 2-page pdf (0.5mb)

Four-way valves use two three-way valve functions operated at the same time, one normally closed and one normally open. These valves have two outlet ports that alternate between being pressurized and exhausted. Use four-way valves to operate double acting air cylinders, to control bi-directional air motors, and in air circuitry.

Helpful Hints on Preparing Compressed Air 15-page pdf (0.2mb)

In general, air service equipment should be maintained annually. While use, quality of air, and condition at examination are all factors that might impact your maintenance schedule, here are some general guidelines to follow:

General Purpose Filter: Replace/maintain annually. Norgren does not recommend cleaning modern polypropylene elements, sintered bronze elements can lose 15% efficiency each time cleaned. Replacement elements are low cost, thus Norgren recommends replacement.

Coalescing: Evaluate after 12 months of servicing. If the pressure drop across the element exceeds 10 psig (0.7 bar) then the element requires changing.

Activated Carbon Packs: Change them every 1,000 hours usage or when you detect odor or notice the pink indicator band.

Clean Compressed Air: The Norgren Guide to Effective Air Preparation 24 page pdf (4.28mb)

To properly apply pneumatic components in a system, consider the actuator first. Norgren has seen a large number of cylinders grossly oversized, resulting in poor actuator performance, wasted compressed air, and high initial component costs.

In fact, oversizing an actuator by one bore size can result in a 50% increase in the cost of compressed air required for the application. If care is taken in this initial step of the design process, every component upstream of the actuator will have a better chance of being correctly sized and applied.

Pneumatic Energy Savings Guide 8-page pdf (0.8mb)

Poppet valves are robust by design and are usually very tolerant of media contaminants. Poppet valve construction is typically robust and characterized as being a high flow and fast acting. The large opening (orifice) of a poppet valve unlike typical spool valves allows particulate to pass through the valve easily.

Most poppet valves allow for modification to application requirements. Understanding the operating and Max pressure rating, required flow, application media (Air, Gas, Fluid..) and voltage will enable the poppet valve to be optimized for performing in its application.

Helpful Engineering Information 27-page pdf (0.2mb)

You can fill a standard "green dome" Oil-Fog lubricator under pressure without shutting off supply air and venting the lubricator reservoir. When the fill plug is removed, a check valve in the lubricator body isolates the system pressure from the reservoir, and the reservoir will de-pressurize through slots in the fill plug. The lubricator can then be safely filled with oil. When you replace the fill plug, the reservoir will re-pressurize.

The standard "red dome" Micro-Fog unit can only be filled while pressurized if an optional remote fill system or quick fill nipple accessory is fitted. Never remove the fill plug of a Micro-Fog lubricator while pressurized--it could be dangerous! When in doubt, Norgren engineers recommend shutting off the system pressure.

Lubricator Overview 5-page pdf (0.28mb)

When choosing a cylinder mount, always consider a pivot type mounting first as this will eliminate bending moments applied to the rod. Many applications, however, will require a fixed mounting arrangement.

Improving the Bottom Line with Pneumatics 4-page pdf (0.28mb)

2-position, detented valves are normally used on clamps to maintain cylinder position during loss of electrical power. You can energize them during the forward stroke to return to the normal position during emergencies, provided guards are present and no pinch points exist.

Simplified Valve Circuit Guide 24-page pdf (0.3mb)

Coalescing filters do not remove oil that is in the vapor state in the supply air. Vapors are typically removed using an activated carbon filter. Always protect a vapor removal element by removing oil aerosols with a coalescing filter before the vapor removal filter.

In rack and pinion actuators, you can double the torque by adding an additional rack. You can also use the added rack to reduce backlash between gear teeth. Because standard cylinder construction is used, many optional cylinder features are available, including cushions, flow controls, and bumpers.

Three-way valves are the same as two-way valves with the addition of a third port for exhausting downstream air. They're available in normally open or normally closed operating configurations. Use them to control single acting or spring return cylinders on any load which must be pressurized and alternately exhausted.

Often you will see customers using 5/2 valves with a port blocked to gain the 3/2 function which obviously has an impact on size and cost to any application. Small low-flow 3 Way valves can also pilot control larger air operated valves or devices such as air motors.

A pre-filter is a general purpose filter placed upstream of a higher grade filter to remove the majority of water and larger particle contaminants, thus lengthening the life of the higher grade filter element.

Norgren recommends at least a 40 micron pre-filter ahead of an oil removal coalescing filter. In situations where especially dirty air is present, Norgren recommends the use of a 5 micron pre-filter in front of the oil removal coalescing filter instead.

Need a refresher on service life indicators?

The service life (pressure drop) indicator found on top of coalescing or general purpose filters is green when the filter is new. As a pressure differential develops across the filter element with use, a spring biased red outer sleeve is pushed up.

When more red is visible than green, then the pressure differential across the element is in excess of 0.7 bar, and the element should be replaced.

With actuators, excessive side loading can cause premature wear or even rod deflection. To prevent this, consider an oversized rod and/or a stop tube. Stop tubes enhance the traverse load carrying capability of a long stroke cylinder by increasing the distance between the piston and the rod bearing at full extension.

Not sure how to determine proper air valve size? The traditional approach of using a valve size equivalent to the port in the cylinder can be very costly. Instead, use cylinder speed as the determining factor.

Three main types of filters exist: the general purpose filter for water and particles, the coalescing oil removal filter for oil aerosols, and the activated carbon filter for the removal of oil vapors.