REPEATED POSITIONING OF A LONG STROKE PNEUMATIC CYLINDER USING PROXIMITY SWITCHES

Abstract

This paper deals with a technique of repeated positioning of a long stroke pneumatic cylinder. This system is suitable for a long stroke cylinder when the desired intermediate stop positions are fixed and the same operation may be repeated as in automatic production lines. The basic control algorism is a sequential on-off action of the air valves. For one desired position, three proximity switches are installed to detect the slider passing as well as its velocity. The main experimental result with a rod-less cylinder of 1000 mm stroke is that the control accuracy converged quickly within +/-0.2mm by a learning function.