Alternative materials in hydraulic cylinder design : application of carbon fibre components

In today’s underground mining industry machinery is constantly getting larger, becoming more robust and more powerful. Therefore it is not surprising that there is a growing requirement for enhanced technologies and ideas to be implemented to make the working environment more efficient whilst maintaining the highest levels of safety. The overall objective of this project was to research hydraulic cylinders, composite materials and manufacturing processes to investigate whether it was feasible to manufacture a hydraulic cylinder from alternative materials namely carbon fibre. The main reasons for completing this project were to reduce the weight of current steel cylinders, prevent or minimize current corrosion rates and to improve safety procedures associated with fitment procedures in the underground mining environment.