How to Meter In/Out Pneumatic Cylinders + Mid-Stroke Stopping Explained!

In this video, we explore how to control the speed and motion of pneumatic cylinders using meter-in and meter-out flow control techniques. You’ll learn the key differences between these two methods, when to use each one, and how they affect the performance of your pneumatic system.
We also dive into one of the trickier challenges in pneumatics—stopping a cylinder mid-stroke. Because air is compressible, it’s tough to get a cylinder to stop accurately at a midpoint using standard controls.
To solve this, we demonstrate how piggybacking two cylinders (in series) can provide precise, positive mid-stroke stopping by mechanically locking the position, rather than relying on compressed air alone.
🔧 Topics covered:

  • What is meter-in vs. meter-out control?
  • How flow controls affect speed and stability
  • Why mid-stroke stops are difficult in pneumatics
  • How dual-cylinder setups can enable positive stops
    This is a must-watch for anyone working with pneumatic systems in automation, robotics, or machine design!
    📐 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment if you have questions or want to see more content like this.

Pneumatics #CylinderControl #FlowControl #Automation #EngineeringTips

Corey Rasmussen

Corey Rasmussen is an award-winning professional engineer (NC and TX) with over 20 years of product design and development experience. He has two patents related to aerial lifts machinery, has advanced certifications in hydraulics and electronic controls, and specializes in designing mobile equipment. Corey is the principal engineer of Rasmussen Designs and is based out of Durham, NC.

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