What is low friction cylinders？

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The VQ Series of next-generation metal-sealed low-friction cylinders incorporate a gap-sealing structure and ball-bearing guide bushings, effectively overcoming the limitations of conventional low-friction cylinders. These include:

• VQM Series Lateral Load Resistant Low Friction Cylinders

• VQQ Series Compact Low Friction Cylinders

• VQP Series Single Acting Low Friction Cylinders

These cylinders are widely used in industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, ceramics, glass processing, and machining & grinding of mechanical components.

VQQ Series Compact Low Friction Cylinders

VQM Series Lateral Load Resistant Low Friction Cylinders

1. Lateral Load Resisting Low Friction Cylinder – VQM Series

Designed for low pressure, low speed, uniform speed, high-pressure low friction, high-speed, and high-frequency actuation.

Working Principle: This series employs an integrated ball-bearing design and ball-bearing guide bushings, leveraging gap-sealing technology to reduce sliding resistance while enhancing lateral load capacity.

Key Features:

• Superior Lateral Load Resistance: Built-in ball bearings support high lateral forces, making them suitable for non-ideal mounting conditions.

• Ultra-Low Friction Actuation: Sliding resistance is as low as 0.005 MPa, supporting speeds from 0.3 mm/s (ultra-low) to 1000 mm/s (high-speed actuation).

• Extended Service Life: Rated for 10,000 km of operation or 100 million reciprocating cycles.

• High Stability: Consistent friction over time, maintaining force control accuracy within 0.05 N.

• Oil-Free Design: Reduces maintenance costs while complying with cleanroom requirements.

2. Compact Low Friction Cylinder – VQQ Series

Engineered for low pressure, low speed, uniform speed, and minimal friction environments.

Working Principle: This series features a fluoropolymer seal combined with a gap-sealing structure and ball-bearing guide bushings, ensuring low friction (only 0.05 N sliding resistance) and a compact design.

Key Features:

• Ultra-Thin and Compact: 30% thinner than traditional cylinders, ideal for confined spaces.

• Stable Low-Speed Operation: No stick-slip effect at 0.3 mm/s, while high-speed versions support up to 3000 mm/s.

• Precision Force Control: Force fluctuation below 0.05 N, suitable for delicate force-sensitive operations.

• High-Speed and High-Frequency Response: Achieves up to 50 cycles per second in short-stroke applications.

Industrial Automation Industry

Precision Machining Industry

3. Single-Acting Low Friction Cylinder – VQP Series

Ideal for low-friction, force-controlled applications.

Working Principle: Utilizes a piston-free structure (hollow piston rod) and gap-sealing technology, achieving single-acting contraction via external force control. This design offers extremely low and time-invariant sliding resistance.

Key Features:

• Zero Stick-Slip – Maintains smooth motion even within 0.01 mm micro-displacements.

• Piston-Free Design – Coaxial piston and rod structure minimize sliding resistance.

• Stable Thrust Output – Radial pressure deviation < 3 µm, ensuring consistent thrust even in multi-cylinder setups.

• Ultra-Low Friction & Soft Contact – Output force controlled within ±0.01 N, with long-term stability.

• High-Precision Linear Control – Facilitates highly accurate linear motion.

• Dual-Acting Applications – Two VQP cylinders can be combined for enhanced thrust accuracy, maintaining equal force in both extension and retraction directions.

How to select a low friction cylinder?

① For pressure controling with fine pressure variations

② For cutting glasses as and lenses, requiring constant force

③ Tension controling responding to very low pressure and minute pressure variations

④ For transferring precision components, etc., that require low or uniform speed actuation

⑤ For eliminating non-conforming articles requiring high speed actuation

⑥ For punching operations requiring high frequency actuation

Polishing wafers

Cutting wavy surfaces

Coil winding

Transferring precision components

Eliminating non-conforming articles

Punching

Inspection and mounting of an electronic component

High-precision linear control

Coil winding

Two VQP low friction cylinder application

⑦ For press control of various grinding devices

⑧ For thin film manufacturing engineering

• Tension control unit for slitting machines and winders

• Tension control for gravure printing machines

• Tension control for various thin film manufacturing equipment for liquid crystals

• Tension control for various industrial thin film manufacturing equipment

Thin film manufacturing industry

Glass manufacturing industry

The above is the working principle, characteristics and application examples of VQ series low friction cylinders in various industries. If you don’t know how to choose a suitable low friction cylinder, please contact VPC Pneumatic. We will be happy to help you!