Mapua Institute of Technology

Intramuros, Manila

School of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering

Department of Electronics Engineering

Module No.7
Controlling a Cylinder

Submitted by:
BACLAO, Noel Jonathan C.

Submitted to:
Engr. Glenn Magwili

____________________
December 12, 2014
Date of Submission

INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
In this experiment, basic control of a cylinder via PLC system
integration is demonstrated. A cylinder reciprocates a function of a
pump that applies force to a specific area. Cylinders could be
controlled

via

integrating

electrical

and

pneumatic

wiring

technique, programming and troubleshooting in terms of the PLC

language.

This

device

is

frequently

utilized

in

industrial

applications especially on the manufacturing industry which

frequently

needs

constant

application

of

pressure

to

their

processes.
On the first part of the module, the starting and stopping
control of a cylinder is demonstrated. To actuate the cylinder, a
toggle switch is used. When the switch is pressed, the cylinder
would retract and extend repeatedly. This condition would require
a latching mechanism between the circuitry, thus utilizing an
internal coil. A reset button is also needed to stop the operation
cycle and halt the cylinder to its default position. A normally closed
switch between the control circuit and the output solenoid must be
used to perform the condition. The solenoid would be the
connection between the pneumatic and the electrical wiring
system of the cylinder. It would be the output of the electrical
wiring and the input of the pneumatic wiring system.

On the second part of the module, the one cycle control of the
cylinder is showed. The cylinder would fully extend when the
starting switch is pressed and fully retract when the switch is
depressed. A simple PLC wiring diagram can do the trick for this
condition. Two sensors must be attached to the cylinder to tell the
control circuit if the cylinder is fully extended or retracted. A coil
could be utilized to separate the control circuit from the trigger
switch. Lastly, the cylinder must only rely on the switch if it would
retract or extend, depending on the pressing action on the switch.
On the last two parts of the module, the counter and timer
principles that we learned from the last module is utilized. The two
is integrated to create a cylinder system that can be used on
simple industrial applications. Timer could control the period in
which the cylinder would apply the pressure to a specific area and
the counter would dictate when the cycle would end/repeat itself.

CONCLUSION
In summary, cylinder control could be done via old fashioned
electrical wiring or a PLC wiring system. A cylinder is a type of
actuator that could be driven via solenoid valve connected to its
input.

This solenoid valve could be actuated electrically,

pneumatically or via programmable control systems. In addition,

the solenoid valve acts as the boundary between the electrical
control circuit and the pneumatic circuit. Cylinders are actually
piston cylinder assemblies. The valves are merely used to create
the logic, which determines the sequence in which the cylinders
move.
Apart from the fully extended and fully retracted positions of
the piston, there is no intermediate position control in piston
motion. Switches and proximity sensors are type of sensors.
Magnetic proximity sensors are attached to cylinders to detect the
position of the cylinder. Sensor 1 checks the retracted position
while sensor 2 checks the extended position. Meanwhile, timers
and counters enhances the operation of the cylinder via PLC. The
controller could control the time in which the force could be
applied and the repeatability of the operation could be controlled.

This option on the PLC is very useful on industrial applications

especially on industrial automation conversion of manufacturing
industries that requires force variation and manipulation that
needs cylinders to actuate them.