Not every application can be serviced with an off-the-shelf hydraulic cylinder. Some operations may require a specific bore, stroke, mounting style, or larger size to make your cylinder work with your equipment. Instead of trying to make a standard cylinder fit your application, a custom hydraulic cylinder can be built to your specific needs.
At Yates Industries, we offer custom tie rod, welded, and mill duty hydraulic cylinders. From simple dimensional changes to more in-depth, specialized configurations, we can work with you to find the right cylinder for your application.
A custom hydraulic cylinder is designed or modified to meet the specific requirements of an application. Rather than choosing from a set of standardized options, you can customize various elements of the cylinder to make sure it fits your equipment and performs the way it needs to.
Depending on the application, custom options may include:
The right combination of these features depends on how and where the cylinder will be used.
Custom cylinders are especially useful when your equipment has space, performance, or installations requirements. Other reasons may include:
Available space can be one of the biggest challenges when selecting a hydraulic cylinder. A cylinder may have the right bore and stroke but still be too long, too large, or have mounting dimensions that don’t work with your equipment.
With a custom cylinder, dimensions can be designed around the space you have available.
Every application has different force and movement requirements. Bore size affects the force a cylinder can produce, while stroke determines how far the cylinder can extend and retract.
If a standard cylinder doesn’t offer the combination you need, a custom cylinder can be built to those specifications.
The way a cylinder connects to your equipment is just as important as its size. Depending on the application, you may need a clevis, flange, trunnion, foot, eye, or another type of mounting configuration.
Custom mounting options can help the cylinder fit properly into your existing equipment.
Some cylinders have to handle much more than standard operating conditions. High temperatures, heavy loads, moisture, abrasive materials, and other environmental factors can all affect cylinder performance.
A custom cylinder can be built with materials, seals, coatings, and other components selected for the conditions it will be operating in.
There are several aspects of a hydraulic cylinder that can be customized depending on what your application requires. The most common include:
The bore is the inside diameter of the cylinder barrel. It plays an important role in determining how much force the cylinder can produce at a given hydraulic pressure.
Choosing the right bore size is important for making sure the cylinder can handle the load required by your equipment.
The rod needs to be able to handle the loads and conditions of the application. Rod diameter can be customized based on factors such as the load, stroke length, mounting arrangement, and operating conditions.
Stroke is the distance the cylinder rod travels from fully retracted to fully extended.
If your equipment requires a specific amount of movement, the cylinder can be built with the stroke length needed for the application.
Mounting connects the cylinder to the equipment, so getting the mounting configuration right is essential.
Depending on the application, custom cylinders can be built with options such as:
Where the hydraulic lines connect to the cylinder can also matter. Customizing the port size or location can make it easier to connect the cylinder to existing hydraulic lines and equipment.
The internal and external components of a cylinder can also be selected based on the application. This can include the rod material, seals, wear rings, coatings, and other components.
The goal is to choose components that make sense for the environment and conditions the cylinder will be operating in.
Before a custom cylinder can be designed, it’s important to understand what the cylinder needs to do.
Some of the information you’ll want to have includes:
Bore diameter: How much force does the cylinder need to be produce?
Stroke: How far does the cylinder need to extend and retract?
Operating pressure: What hydraulic pressure will the cylinder see?
Rod diameter: What loads will the rod need to handle?
Mounting style: How will the cylinder attach to your equipment?
Retracted length: How much room is available when the cylinder is fully retracted?
Operating environment: Will the cylinder be exposed to heat, moisture, chemicals, dirt, or abrasive materials?
You don’t necessarily need to know all of these specifications before reaching out to a cylinder manufacturer. If you’re replacing an existing cylinder, providing the old cylinder or as much information about it as possible can help determine what you need.
At Yates Industries, we build custom hydraulic cylinders for a wide range of applications and industries.
Our tie rod cylinders can be customized to meet the specific dimensional and performance requirements of your equipment. Depending on the application, options can include different bore and stroke sizes, mounting configurations, ports, and other components. Manufactured and repaired at our facility in St. Clair Shores, Michigan.
Welded cylinders are a popular choice for mobile equipment and other applications where a compact and durable design is important. Yates can customize welded cylinders to meet specific bore, stroke, rod, mounting, and port requirements. Manufactured and repaired at our facility in Austell, Georgia.
When an application calls for a cylinder that can handle demanding industrial conditions, a custom mill duty cylinder may be the right solution. Yates offers custom mill duty cylinders for heavy-duty applications and can customize the design around the requirements of your equipment. Manufactured and repaired at our facility in Decatur, Alabama.
Every application is different, and the right hydraulic cylinder depends on more than just bore and stroke.
Whether you need a custom tie rod, welded, or mill duty cylinder, Yates Industries can help you determine the right configuration for your application.
If you’re replacing an existing cylinder or looking for a cylinder for a new piece of equipment, contact the Yates team to discuss your requirements and find a solution that fits your application.
