ST270 Pneumatics Module Core Activities
It is recommended that students work through the whole module from assignments 1 to 9 in order. However the core activities required to complete the assessment
tasks are identified in the table below.
Assignment
Assignment Title
1
Principles of
Pneumatics
1
Principles of
Pneumatics
1
Principles of
Pneumatics
1
Principles of
Pneumatics
2
Components,
Symbols and
Circuits
2
2
2
2
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Components,
Symbols and
Circuits
Components,
Symbols and
Circuits
Components,
Symbols and
Circuits
Components,
Symbols and
Circuits
Activity Description
Fundamental Principles of Pneumatics
Teacher delivers a presentation:
The Definition of Pneumatics / Air Composition / Properties of Gases / Gas Volume / Gas Pressure /
Pressure and Force / The Compression of Gases / Safety Rules
Making Use of Compressed Air
Students use the Pneumatics Accessory Kit to construct a pneumatic circuit with syringes and plastic
tubing. The syringes are used to demonstrate the operation of a simple pneumatic circuit.
Air Pressure
Students use the Pneumatic Systems Application to investigate how gas pressure is measured and how
a lack of pressure (vacuum) is measured.
Compressing Air
Students use the Pneumatic Systems Application to investigate the operation of compressors and identify
how receivers and regulators are used.
Pneumatic Circuit Symbols and Conventions
Teacher delivers a presentation:
Why Use Symbols? / The Basic Symbol / Standard Actuator Symbols / Position Boxes / Valve Ports /
Flow Paths / Air Supply and Exhaust / Flow Path Example / Miscellaneous Valve Symbols / Other
Pneumatic Symbols / Example Circuit
Minimum
Time
(mins)
Core
Activity
20

10

25
20

20

Building a Simple Circuit (Demonstration)
The Pneumatics Trainer is used to build a circuit that is defined by a circuit diagram.
15
Symbols
Students use the Pneumatic Systems Application to discover more about the ways symbols are drawn for
pneumatic circuits.
25

Simulating a Circuit (Demonstration)
The Pneumatics Simulator is used to show how a circuit can be constructed from a circuit diagram.
15

Building a Circuit from a Circuit Diagram
Students use the Pneumatics Simulator to construct a circuit from a circuit diagram.
20

Page 1 of 4
Assignment
Assignment Title
3
Cylinders
3
Cylinders
3
Cylinders
3
Cylinders
3
Cylinders
4
Valves
4
Valves
4
Valves
4
Valves
4
Valves
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Activity Description
Single and Double-acting Cylinders
Teacher delivers a presentation:
Cylinders / Single-acting Cylinder (SAC) Operation / Practical Applications of SAC / Double-acting
Cylinder (DAC) / Double-acting Cylinder Force / Practical Applications of DAC
In and Out with a Double-acting Cylinder (Demonstration)
The Pneumatics Trainer is used to construct a circuit that operates a double-acting cylinder.
Cylinder Construction and Operation
Students use the Pneumatic Systems Application to discover more about the ways cylinders are
constructed and operated.
Extending a Cylinder
Students use the Pneumatics Simulator to apply a compressed air supply to both a single-acting cylinder
and a double-acting cylinder to demonstrate how they operate.
Double-acting Cylinder Circuit
Students use the Pneumatics Simulator to construct a pneumatic circuit that uses two 3-port valves to
control a double-acting cylinder.
Control Valves
Teacher delivers a presentation:
Valve Functions / Mechanical Actuators / Valve Operation / Valve Classification / On-Off Valves / 3-port
Valves / 3-port Valve Operation / Double-Acting Cylinder (DAC) Operation / 3/2 (3-port 2-way) Valves
Symbol
Air Controlled Valves (Demonstration)
The Pneumatics Trainer is used to construct a circuit that uses a pilot-pilot valve.
How Valves Work
Students use the Pneumatics Systems Application to discover how valves are classified, how 3-port and
5-port valves control the air to and from cylinders and how a shuttle valve can direct two inputs to one
output.
Shuttle Valves
Students use the Pneumatics Simulator to construct various circuits that attempt to control a cylinder to
open and close a door. Students adapt the circuit to include the use of a shuttle valve to improve circuit
efficiency.
Valve Actuators
Students use the Pneumatic Systems Application to discover types of mechanical actuators, the electrical
solenoid actuator and the air powered pilot valve actuator.
Minimum
Time
(mins)
Core
Activity
25

15
25
10

10

15

15
20

20
10
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Assignment
Assignment Title
5
Speed Control
5
Speed Control
5
Speed Control
6
Pneumatic Logic
Functions
6
Pneumatic Logic
Functions
6
Pneumatic Logic
Functions
6
Pneumatic Logic
Functions
7
Electropneumatics
7
Electropneumatics
7
Electropneumatics
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Activity Description
Speed Control of Cylinders
Teacher delivers a presentation:
Why Speed Control? Controlling Cylinder Speed / Uni-directional Flow Regulators / Control of SingleActing Cylinder (SAC) / Control of Double-Acting Cylinder (DAC) / Bi-directional Flow Regulators / Door
Speed Control Circuit
Restricting Flow (Demonstration)
The Pneumatics Trainer is used to construct two types of circuits that use restrictors to control the speed
of a piston in a cylinder.
Speed Control and Flow Regulators
Students use the Pneumatic Systems Application to discover how bi-directional and uni-directional flow
regulators are used to control cylinder speed.
Logical Control of Cylinders
Teacher delivers a presentation:
Using Valves to Perform Logic Functions Practical Use of the Logic OR Function
Practical Use of the Logic AND Function
The Logic NOT Function (Inverter)
One OR the Other
Students use the Pneumatics Simulator to construct a circuit that performs the same function as an OR
operator.
AND & NOT
Students use the Pneumatics Simulator to construct circuits that perform the functions of AND & NOT
logic operators.
Boolean Logic
Students read an information sheet about Boolean logic.
Combining Pneumatics and Electronics
Teacher delivers a presentation:
Solenoid Valves / Solenoid Operation Electrical Control of a SAC / Electrical Control of a DAC /
Advantages of Using Solenoid Valves
Electro-pneumatic Circuit (Demonstration)
The Pneumatics Trainer and Electro-Pneumatic System are used to construct a circuit that uses a
solenoid valve to control the operation of a cylinder in a pneumatic circuit.
Solenoid Actuators
Students use the Pneumatic Systems Application to discover how an electric circuit can control the
operation of a pneumatic circuit using solenoid valves.
Minimum
Time
(mins)
Core
Activity
20

10

10

10

10

15

10

15

10

10

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Assignment
7
8
8
8
8
8
Assignment Title
Electropneumatics
Sequential
Control and
Automatic
Circuits
Sequential
Control and
Automatic
Circuits
Sequential
Control and
Automatic
Circuits
Sequential
Control and
Automatic
Circuits
Sequential
Control and
Automatic
Circuits
9
Time Delays
9
Time Delays
9
Time Delays
10
Problem Solving Clear Part, Black
Part
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Minimum
Time
(mins)
Core
Activity
20

15

15

Automated Control Systems
Students use a Pneumatic Systems application to discover how pneumatic circuits can be constructed to
be fully automatic.
10

Manual and Automatic
Students use the Pneumatics Simulator to construct an electro-pneumatic circuit that sequences the
operation of cylinders. The speed of the sequence is controlled by used input, manually actuating
cylinders in sequence. An automatic sequencer is also used to actuate cylinders in sequence.
20

Sequence and Repetition
Students use the Pneumatics Simulator to construct an electro-pneumatic circuit that sequences the
operation of cylinders. Three cylinders are used, with one operating twice in each sequence.
15

Activity Description
Enhanced Electrical Control
Students use the Pneumatics Simulator to construct circuits that use electrical logic functions to
determine the operation of a cylinder.
Sequencing Circuits
Teacher delivers a presentation:
Semi-automatic Circuits / Semi-automatic Circuit Operation / Fully Automatic (Reciprocating) Circuits /
Fully Automatic Circuit Operation / Example Sequencing Circuit Design
Simple Sequencing Circuit (Demonstration)
The Pneumatics Trainer and Electro-pneumatic System are used to build a basic electro-pneumatic
system to sequence a cylinder. Two cylinders are used, each cylinder fired at a different point along the
sequence.
Time Delay Fundamentals
Teacher delivers a presentation:
Why Delay? / Using a Reservoir / Non-Delayed Door Circuit / Time Delayed Door Circuit
Pneumatic Time Delay Circuit (Demonstration)
The Pneumatics Trainer and Electro-pneumatic System is used to build a circuit that demonstrates time
delay.
Electro-pneumatic Time Delay Circuit
Students use the Pneumatics Simulator to construct an electro-pneumatic circuit that demonstrates how
electronics can be used to delay the sequence of the operation of cylinders.
Sorting Parts
Students use the Pneumatics Simulator to construct and test a circuit to fulfill the required specification.
Once tested, students evaluate their designs to see if any changes are required.
10
10
15
50
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