Hydraulic-cylinder selection without guessing
A drawing-led workflow for selecting custom agricultural and mobile hydraulic cylinders.
Start with the function
Define what the cylinder moves, whether it pushes, pulls, lifts, folds, steers, locks, or only positions. Record the mechanism through the full stroke. A cylinder selected from force alone can be wrong because packaging, buckling, speed, side load, pins, ports, and safety functions interact.
Separate pressure from force
Pressure is a system condition; force is pressure multiplied by effective area. Extension uses full bore area. Retraction uses bore area minus rod area. Apply efficiency, back pressure, linkage geometry, dynamic load, and safety factors. The catalogue working-pressure field is not the same as a machine capacity.
Check stroke and installation geometry
Closed length, extended length, pin centres, pin diameters, bracket widths, mount rotation, and interference must be controlled on a drawing. The same nominal stroke can fit one machine and collide on another.
Check rod stability and side load
Compression loading can buckle a rod. Effective length depends on mounts and guidance. Side loads can damage bearings and seals. Model the frame deflection and pivot alignment under load.
Define speed, flow, and end energy
Calculate flow for target speed, check valve and hose losses, and control end-of-stroke kinetic energy. Specify cushions or external deceleration only after the duty is known.
Define environment and life inputs
Temperature, fluid, contamination, washdown, chemicals, corrosion, outdoor storage, cycles, shock, and service access influence seals, rod surface, bearings, coating, and test requirements. Do not invent a service-life number without a validated duty profile.
Approve the complete package
The final package should include a revision-controlled drawing, material and coating notes, seal and fluid compatibility, weld requirements, inspection plan, pressure and functional test, marking, packaging, and change control.