Composite cylinders get user friendly

A new composite construction offers designers more options and lower costs. Composite cylinders are lighter and, often, more durable than traditional metal cylinders. A new type of composite tubing permits smaller IDs than previously possible. Older composite cylinders faced problems with the gel-coat liner delaminating from the filament backing. New, linerless composite cylinders eliminate this concern. Composite cylinders offer fluid-power users an alternative when traditional metal-body cylinders won't do. But they also carry a reputation for being pricey and having a limited range of sizes and configurations. A new generation of cylinder tubing, however, lets designers take advantage of high-performance composites, along with lower costs and greater design flexibility. Composite cylinders outperform their steel and aluminum counterparts in several significant ways. For instance, composites resist a wide variety of corrosive liquids, powders, and gases. And manufacturers can custom compound resins to address particular