Hydraulic cylinders are the essence of the fluid power motivation. However, their simplicity often leads us to discount their subtleties of manufacture, often assuming they’re constructed of identical stock. You’d be surprised, then, to discover the devil is in the details, and not all cylinders are fabricated equally. One factor often overlooked is the bar […]
Mobile Hydraulics Blog
Remove water from hydraulic oil: 3 options to consider
Rain falls on mobile machinery, and unless you clean and garage your front-end loader like you do your hot-rod, your loader will get wet. When your loader gets wet, the opportunity for water to make its way into your hydraulic system exists. Water, especially “free” water not dissolved in the oil, can cause corrosion, modify […]
What are hydraulic cylinders?
What is a hydraulic cylinder? It seems like such an elementary question, especially considering the depth of fluid power related material on the various WTWH and Design World websites. However, as a person whose job deals with fluid power on the daily, even I can forget how important the fundamental lessens in hydraulics are. A […]
Hydraulics is bringing the sexy back with Mandroid
We all know that hydraulics is making a comeback of sorts in robotics, with some of the amazing creations that companies such as Boston Dynamic have been designing. But now Old Spice—never one to shy away from eccentric commercial campaigns—has introduced the Mandroid, some sort of electric/hydraulic hybrid robot that stumbles into love, no matter […]
Introducing Cosford’s Law … or, Science wins, every time
“Pressure makes it go; flow is the rate in which you can create pressure.” –Cosford’s Law If you’ve been around fluid power for more than a week, you’ve heard the phrase “Flow makes it go.” The first thing I was taught about hydraulics was that “pressure is resistance to flow, and pumps only create flow.” […]
Bar stock and its use in hydraulic components
Bar stock is used in various applications of fluid power, either as a mounting for other valve systems or simply for consolidation of plumbing. The bar stock itself is typically an alloy of either aluminum or ductile iron, and is manufactured in billets suitable for machining finished product. The most popular use is the bar […]
Pump cavitation: 7 ways to avoid in mobile hydraulic systems
Pump cavitation is one of the most searched topics on fluid power, which is justified, because cavitation is unfortunately an all-too-common cause of pump failure on mobile equipment. Liquids are able to hold dissolved gasses in solution, and the gas saturation level within any liquid is dependent upon the pressure, the temperature and the type […]
Start planning now for NFPA’s IEOC!
One of the most informative events of the year for me is the National Fluid Power Association’s annual Industry & Economic Outlook Conference. Usually held in the Chicago suburbs, the event is a great networking opportunity, but also provides attendees with some insightful long- and short-term information on the economy, both here in the U.S. and across […]
Five tips for spring maintenance in your hydraulic systems
By Josh Cosford Spring has arrived, with all the fanfare of a 3675th place finish in the Boston Marathon. As I write this, I am elated by the sunny and relatively balmy weather outside, but also saddened because I know the daytime high barely pushed the mercury into the “normal” range for this time of […]
Trelleborg launches online learning modules on sealing
If there’s one thing the fluid power industry needs, it is as many opportunities for users of its technologies and components to have chances to learn about them. And while more universities are offering fluid power courses and a fair number of companies offer on-site training, there is still room for growth. That’s why I […]
