How to Read Pneumatic Prints

Pneumatic systems used compressed air or other gasses to move mechanical parts of a machine. Pneumatic prints are blueprints that outline the structure and function of a machine that employs a pneumatic system. An engineer or mechanical technician can determine what a machine does and how it works from reading pneumatic prints. You must also memorize the symbols that are used in a pneumatic print. Technicians who read pneumatic prints must be proficient in math, measuring and the use of electronic calculators. Technical colleges and trade schools offer classes in pneumatic systems and print reading.

Things You'll Need

• Pneumatic print
• Calculator
• Measuring device like a caliper and a rule
• Understanding of math
• Understanding of how valves and cylinders work under pressure

Instructions

1. Memorize the symbols used to designate the components of a pneumatic system. Print a reference sheet with the symbols and their uses and meaning until you can memorize the symbols.

2. Learn the basic components of a pneumatic system and how those components work together in the system. Compressed air or an inert gas is placed under pressure through valves and cylinders of a machine. The pressure exerted on the parts of the machine by the compressed air cause the parts to move.

3. Identify the type of pneumatic drawing. Pneumatic drawings may be graphic, pictorial, cutaway drawings, or a combination of both graphic and pictorial drawings. Graphic drawings are symbols that are connected by lines. Graphic pneumatic drawings depict the function and components of the system. Pictorial drawings depict the system including pipes and may or may not include industry standard symbols. Cutaway drawings of pneumatic systems graphically depict the internal components and how they operate with symbols.

4. Identify the scale of the drawing and translate the scale to real world dimensions. The scale is a numerical value usually printed on the bottom edge of the pneumatic blue print or in a box located on one side of the drawing. The scale will be expressed as a ratio. Pneumatic prints are small versions of the actual machine with measurements "scaled down." A scale of 1:2 means that a measurement of "1" on the print is equal to "2" in the actual system, once it is built.

5. Take a course at a technical school or community college to improve and expand your math and pneumatic print reading skills.

Tips & Warnings

• Refer to a symbol reference sheet until you have memorized what each symbol on a pneumatic print represents.

• Make accurate measurements of the pneumatic print so that the actual machine is constructed properly. This requires understanding "scale" and converting ratios to real world dimensions.

• Never guess at a measurement. Pneumatic prints are technical scale drawings that must be translated to real world dimensions with a high degree of accuracy.

References

• Gears Educational Systems LLC: Reading Pneumatic Schematic Symbols
• Tooling U: Fluid System Print Reading 220
• Hydraulics and Pneumatics: Two types of fluid power circuits

Resources

• Blueprint Reading: Fundamentals for the Water and Wastewater Maintenance Operator
• Deyes High School: Pneumatics
• State University: Hydraulic Pneumatic Technician