Planning
Frequently Asked Questions
What about using seals made of Viton ® ? Seals made of fluorocarbon, such as Viton ® can be a good answer for high heat applications, up to 350°F, however, fluid type is also important. It may be acceptable in most fluids at lower pressures, but fluorocarbon is not the universal remedy for all fluid problems. There are other acceptable seal compounds for use in water-glycol and other unusual fluids. Our staff can help direct you to a seal that is best suited to perform in your application. Because seals made of fluorocarbon may work in your application, we offer this as an option on many of our cylinders; call for details. How hot is too hot to run hydraulic fluid? Anything above 350°F is considered too hot for most hydraulic fluids and seals. Our standard seals are rated to operate at temperatures from 40°F to 160°F. Even seals made of fluorocarbon are not recommended above 350°F. For advice on high heat applications, please contact Vektek’s Engineering Department. I notice that in your fitting section you have both flareless and 37° flare fittings; why? We do stock both 37° and flareless fittings. You may also notice that we do not stock the nuts for 37° fittings. We recommend that you connect tubing with flareless fittings. They are proven to work well and be somewhat more forgiving than flared tubing. A good flare tubing connection is very reliable. Should you happen to cut it 1/8” short, it is difficult to stretch. A flareless fitting has some built in forgiveness. We suggest that you use 37° fittings to attach hoses to devices or feed fluid to your fixtures. I have my cylinder hooked up to a pump. It extended but won’t retract. What have I done wrong? Is there a directional control valve in the circuit? If not, one is required. Is the cylinder single or double acting? Can you provide a schematic or simple hand sketch for us to troubleshoot? We are glad to help.
My cylinder is hooked to the air line and it won’t hold the 5,000 pounds your book listed, why? Is it an air cylinder? We do not manufacture a 5,000 lbs air cylinder. We do manufacture 5,000 psi and 5,000 lbs capacity hydraulic cylinders. If you have a cylinder with an effective piston area of 1 square inch and you are putting 5,000 psi into it, your effective clamping force will be 5,000 lbs. Call us, we would be happy to calculate the force for you.
How do I read my gauge and what does it mean? First, release all pressure on the system. Check the gauge for proper operation. Check to be sure that the gauge is returning to “zero”, pressurize the system and read the gauge. The current psi reading from the gauge indicates the clamped pressure of your system unless there is a pressure limited circuit branch. (The entire system equalizes at this pressure, ∆ P is negligible when under static clamp conditions.) I need a clamp just like your 15-0109-08 except it needs a 6” long plunger. Can you help me? Maybe. We do entertain specials from time to time. Please ask us. We often find that “special” requests coincide with our ongoing new product development. If you have a special need, it is worth asking. We may decide to do your special as a development project. We may not be able to produce it (actually you may not want it) because of cost. It may be something we have done before and will be relatively easy. The danger involved in using “specials” is that we do not stock replacement on special parts. When your machine crashes (when, not if) and you need a rush spare, special parts have to be made from scratch. You will need to order spares at the time of the original order. The cost of a single replacement on a complicated special can often be 5-10 times the cost paid in the beginning. A little foresight will be very beneficial if you must have a special. If you have questions you’d like answered, call, write, fax or email us. We would be glad to help you use VektorFlo ® products more effectively.
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NOTE: Work Supports cannot be adapted to lock on air pressure.
I want to run my clamps on air. I really don’t need much force. Since these cylinders are being used to position workpieces, is it Okay to use air? Some of our cylinders (but not Work Supports) can be run on air; others may be adapted. If air will provide adequate force and you are happy, so are we. In some cases, straight line cylinders and Work Supports have been run successfully using high pressure gas. Swing Clamps may not be used on high pressure gas. Please call our factory for information on our pneumatic clamping line, specifically designed for workholding. I need some type of retractable locator. After my part is loaded, I want it to “disappear.” Do you have anything to do this? Block pull cylinders or any double acting cylinder may be used in this way. If highly precise location is required, please be sure to use a guide bushing to provide more precise location. When I called in, my salesperson referred to a “breather”. What is it and what does it do? A “breather” is a port designed to let captured air vent to atmosphere when a cylinder is actuated or a work support plunger is moved. This lets the trapped air “breathe” into the room. Breathers will sometimes “inhale” coolant and it is often preferable to plumb them to clean, dry air space rather than allow them to suck coolant. Cylinder malfunction will occur if breathers are plugged. Vektek cylinders are all designed with stainless steel springs to reduce the possibility of corrosion from this coolant contamination.
800-992-0236 1334 E 6th Avenue Emporia, KS 66801 sales@vektek.com
© Vektek, January 2023
800-992-0236
www.vektek.com
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