Hydraulics and Pneumatics Lab

MET230L: Hydraulics and Pneumatics Lab
Unit 1 Lab Assignment 1
Exercise 1
Consider the pneumatic circuit shown.
a. Name all of the following’s components:
S1: Compressor air supply
F1: Air service unit-Filter, regulator, gauge and
lubricator
M1: 3/2-way valve with pushbutton
V1: One-way flow control valve
C1: single acting cylinder
b. Predict what happens to C1 when M1 is actuated
The single acting cylinder rod will extend when M1 is
actuated
c. In the simulation software assigned by your
instructor, open a new file named Unit1_Lab1Ex1_LastName_FirstName
d. Build the circuit using the components shown or their equivalents
e. Start the simulation by left clicking the start button circled in red as shown ( ).
f. Click and hold down the Left Mouse Button (LMB) on M1 to run the circuit,
What happens to the rod/piston of C1? The rod piston extended to the right.
Is this the result you predicted in step b. above? __Yes___________________
g. Now, release the LMB
What happens to the rod/piston of C1? The rod piston extended to the left.ie the initial
position
Why? _This is because of the rod piston has a return spring which pushes the air in
the cylinder of the cylinder.
h. Set V1 opening to 50 %, run the circuit and observe the extension and retraction speed of
C1 rod
i. Repeat step h. with V1 opening set at 5%
j. Reduce V1 opening further to 2%, run and observe the extension and retraction speed of
C1 rod
Does the extension speed increase or decrease? _Decreases
Why? The opening of the One-way flow control valve reduces thus reducing air
supply flow rate to the cylinder.
Does the retraction speed increase or decrease? Increases
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Figure 1: Figure for
Exercise

Why? When the control valve opening is reduced the check valve opening increases
thus allowing more air to flow out of the cylinder. However the increase is slight
since the return spring is the same.
k. Take a screen shot of the working simulated circuit, copy and paste in the word document
Figure 2: Stage 1 – When M1 valve is actuated
Figure 2 shows the piston position when valve M1 is actuated. The piston extends
and stays in extended position until M1 remains actuated.
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Figure 3: Stage 2 – When M1 value is released, the piston cylinder returns to initial position
Figure 3 shows the last stage of the simulation. When valve M1 is released, the
piston returns to its initial position. When the valve M1 is actuated, the piston rods
extends because of forward pneumatic pressure. When Valve M1 is released, the
pressure from the piston releases. Since piston is spring loaded, as soon as the
pressure is released and piston returns to the original position due to spring force.
l. Save the simulation and word files
Exercise 2
Carefully consider the pneumatic circuit shown.
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Figure 4: Initial circuit to be modeled for Exercise 2
a. Name the following components:
F1: Simplified Air service unit without lubricator
V1: One-way flow control valve
b. Consider the components F1 of exercises 1 and 2,
Do they both represent a same physical device? Yes
If yes, why this difference in symbols? _The one in exercise 1 has Filter, regulator,
gauge and lubricator while the one in exercise 2 has no lubricator.
c. In the simulation software assigned by your instructor, open a new file named
Unit1_Lab1Ex2_LastName_FirstName
d. Build the circuit using the components shown or their equivalents
e. Start the simulation by left clicking the start button circled in red as shown ( ).
f. Run the circuit (LMB and hold-down M1) with V1 opening sets to 100%, 50%, then 5%
Does it affect the operation of C1 the same way as in exercise 1? No
Why? In exercise 1 the extension flow is regulated while in exercise 2 the retraction
flow is regulated
Does V1 control (influence) the extension or retraction speed of C1? Retraction speed
of C1
g. Take a screen shot of the working simulated circuit, copy and paste in the word document
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