Deceleration Force and Air Requirements for Parker Air Cylinders
Air Cylinder Kinetic Energy Graph
Cushion ratings for air cylinders can be determined by consulting the Kinetic Energy Graph above and the Piston Rod Assembly Weight Table below. To determine whether a cylinder will adequately stop a load without damage to the cylinder, the weight of the load (including the piston/piston rod weight from the Piston Rod Assembly Weight Table) and the maximum speed of the piston rod must first be determined. Enter the Kinetic Energy Graph at the base for the value of weight determined and project vertically to the required speed value. The point of intersection of these two lines will be the cushion rating number required for the application.
To determine the total load to be moved, the weight of the piston and rod must be included.
Total Weight = weight of the piston and non-stroke rod length (column 1) + weight of the rod per inch of stroke x the inches of stroke (Column 2) + the load to be moved
Example: A 3-1/4" bore cylinder with a 1" rod diameter and 25" of stroke; external load to be moved is 85 lbs. Total load to be moved is then (3.3 lbs) + (0.223 lbs/inch x 25 in) + (85 lbs) for a total of 93.9 lbs
4MA Piston Rod Assembly Weight Table
Bore | Rod Dia. (mm) |
Column 1 Basic Weight for piston and non-stroke rod (lbs) |
Column 2 Basic weight for each 1" of stroke (lbs) |
1-1/2 | 5/8 | 1.1 | 0.087 |
1 | N/A | N/A | |
2 | 5/8 | 1.2 | 0.087 |
1 | 2.1 | 0.223 | |
2-1/2 | 5/8 | 1.5 | 0.087 |
1 | 2.3 | 0.223 | |
3-1/4 | 1 | 3.3 | 0.223 |
1-3/8 | 4.9 | 0.421 | |
4 | 1 | 3.8 | 0.223 |
1-3/8 | 5.4 | 0.421 | |
5 |
1 | 5.0 | 0.223 |
1-3/8 | 6.5 | 0.421 | |
6 |
1-3/8 | 8.3 | 0.421 |
1-3/4 | 11.8 | 0.682 | |
8 |
1-3/8 | 12.4 | 0.421 |
1-3/4 | 15.0 | 0.682 |
Note: Aluminum piston used for weight calculation.
Available Pneumatic Cylinder Styles
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Tie Rod Cylinders | ![]() |
Guided Cylinders |
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Round Body Cylinders | ![]() |
Rodless Cylinders |
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Compact Cylinders |
Engineering & Product Selection Information
Pneumatic Product Selection
- Pneumatic Actuators & Air Cylinders
- Pneumatic Cylinders
- Automation Products: rotary actuators, grippers, slide tables, rotary tables, escapement
- Actuator Accessories: Linear alignment couplers, flow controls, air oil tanks, rodlocks, electronic sensors, shock absorbers
Application Engineering Data
- Operating Principles and Construction
- Fluids and Temperature
- Push and Pull Forces
- Mounting Information
- Ports
- Tie Rod Supports, Stroke Data & Stroke Adjusters
- Mounting Classes
- Stop Tubing
- Stroke Selection Chart
- Deceleration Force and Air Requirements
- Cushion Ratings and Air Requirements
- NFPA Rod End Data and Piston Rods
- Modifications, Special Assemblies, Tandem Cylinders, Duplex Cylinders
- Rotary Actuator Torque Requirements
- Rotary Actuator Basic Equations
- Conversion Factors
