1. Introduction To Fluid Power

2. Upon completion of this lesson students should be able to…
List at least three uses for fluid power.
Understand how fluid power impacts our daily lives.
Compare and contrast hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
Identify the four main components of a fluid power system.

3. What is Fluid Power ?
A system that transmits and controls energy through the use of pressurized liquid or gas
Pneumatics - the media used is air
Hydraulics - the media used is oil or water

4. What can Fluid Power Do ? Operation of heavy or hot materials
Unloading of hoppers in manufacturing, steel making, mining and chemical industries

5. What can Fluid Power Do ? Crop spraying Paint Spraying
Holding and moving parts or assemblies in manufacturing

6. More Fluid Power Examples
Jig (guides cutting tool) and Fixture (stationary work holding) clamping
Forming operations of bending, drawing and flattening
Bottling and filling machines
Machine tool changing

7. What can Fluid Power Do ? Component and material conveyor transfer
Robots
Dentist drills
vacuum lifting for thin sheet materials

8. Pneumatic System Characteristics
Gases can be compressed
Environmentally friendly and readily available
Pneumatic systems operate at lower pressure compared to hydraulics
Typically loud during loading and operation
Usually more economical

9. Hydraulic System Characteristics
Fluids are relatively incompressible
Spills are not environmentally friendly and readily available
Hydraulic systems operate at higher pressure compared to pneumatics
Smooth predictable motion
Oil lubricates and cools moving parts

10. Tank
The tank holds/stores the fluid or air that powers the system.

11. Pump
The pump drives or pressurizes the air or fluid to generate power for the system.

12. Valve
The valve controls the amount of air or fluid flowing throughout the system.

13. Actuator
The actuator does the work for the system by converting the fluid/air pressure into either linear or rotational mechanical movement.