Single- vs Double-acting Air Rams or Air Cylinders: Which One Should You Choose?

Pneumatic cylinders, also called air cylinders, air rams, and air actuators, are mechanical devices that use compressed air to move a load on a straight path. The most common type of pneumatic cylinder is a rod and piston moving inside a closed cylinder wherein the piston moves only in one direction. Pneumatic cylinders use compressed…

Pressure Control Valve: What are Precision Pressure Regulators?

oxygen tank with gauges and pressure regulator

Pneumatic precision pressure – or simply precision – regulators are designed to provide a constant pressure output due to fluctuating supply pressure. The tool is similar to how a voltage regulator works. Precision regulators can give out varying degrees of accurate pressure concerning reduced pressure output. For more pressure-critical applications, precision regulators with a pressure…

Air Rams: All About Pneumatic Clamps

Pneumatic clamps, also called power clamps, are heavy-duty pneumatic locking clamps that use air rams and are mostly used in the automotive industry. Power clamps began to replace manual clamps when they were first developed in the mid-1980s. Today, modern pneumatic clamps are used in all industries because of their automation, reliability, and robust design…

Pressure Control Valve: Clever and Unique Uses for Air Compressors

Air compressors are used to convert normal air into denser and high-pressure air for different uses. These machines are found in a wide range of environments. The most common you often see are the uses in the professional and industrial sectors such as tire inflation at petrol stations, compressed air tools, airbrushing or spray painting,…

Pneumatic Valves: Industries that Use Pneumatic Applications

The word pneumatics is derived from the Greek word, “Pneuma,” meaning air or wind. Pneumatic systems use air or gas as the medium because air can be sufficiently exhausted into the atmosphere after completing its assigned task. Compressed air is used to transmit energy. Hydraulic systems using pneumatic valves or systems are being used extensively…

Pressure Control Valve: Pneumatic Tube System is a Technological Wonder that is Still Around

If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes 19th Century novels or sci-fi movies in the 1990s, you probably know the pneumatic tube system (PTS). The pneumatic tube is a system that propels cylindrical containers through a network of PVC or aluminium pipes by compressed air, or partially by vacuum. Pneumatic tubes gained popularity in the…

Air Rams (Compact Pneumatic Cylinders): A Practical Guide to Function, Selection and Application

Air Rams - compact pneumatic cylinders - practical guide by Mastermac2000

(Post updated February 2026).In this guide, ‘air ram’ refers to the more technically correct term: “compact/short-stroke pneumatic cylinders” (commonly ISO 21287), used where the installation envelope is limited – they pack considerable force into minimal space. However sometimes the term “air ram” is used more broadly to refer to a wider range of pneumatic cylinder…

Pneumatic Valves: Buffers vs Polishers

For anyone new to vehicle detailing, the terms buffer and polisher might be confusing. This can be even more so if you need to purchase pneumatic valves for either one. This comes from the common mass notion that buffing and polishing are both the same with the aim of improving a car’s surface. So, what’s…

Pressure Control Valve: What is an Air or Pneumatic Conveyor?

man using air conveyor in construction work

An air or pneumatic conveyor refers to a family of devices that use high-pressure air to move products and materials instead of using mechanical chains or belts. Air conveyors are most widely used to move lightweight objects such as trays, boxes, and empty containers. Conveyor speeds can reach up to 1,000 fpm. However, conveyors are…

Pressure Control Valve: All About Air Hoists

Air hoists are similar to an electric hoist, except the hoist is powered by an air compressor to remove those restrictions that are required when using an electric power supply. The compressed air that powers the hoist allows for weightless vertical movement or floating functionality. An air hoist is like a large pressure control valve…

Flow Control Valve: All About Pneumatic Fittings

Pneumatic fittings, also called push-fit fittings or flow control valve fittings, are easy to use and require no special skill with a torch or solvents. The fittings are engineered with a ring of metal spurs inside the fittings to tightly grip pipes when inserted into the fittings sockets. O-rings inside the fittings form tight, waterproof…

Flow Control Valve: Pneumatics and Robots

When people think of industrial robots, or any robot in general, they think that all moving parts use electrical motors and mechanical servos. But many robots today use air-powered systems, or pneumatics, to work. A compressor generates the compressed air, and the air moves to a reservoir that stores the air. A flow control valve…