A meter-out flow control circuit controls actuator speed by

A meter-out flow control circuit controls actuator speed by

• A. Increasing supply pressure
• B. Reducing exhaust
• C. Increasing actuator diameter
• D. Applying back pressure to the actuator

Answer: (D)

Meter-out speed control works by throttling the air leaving the cylinder. In this setup, a flow control valve sits in the exhaust path so when air must exit the actuator, it is forced through a restricted opening. That restriction creates back pressure inside the cylinder, which resists the piston’s movement and slows the actuator. You can adjust the throttle to set the desired speed without changing supply pressure. Increasing supply pressure would mainly affect force, not the controlled speed in this arrangement; changing actuator diameter changes force and stroke but not the throttled exhaust effect; reducing exhaust would reduce back pressure and speed up rather than slow it. The essential idea is that applying back pressure to the actuator via the restricted exhaust is what controls the speed.

Meter-out speed control works by throttling the air leaving the cylinder. In this setup, a flow control valve sits in the exhaust path so when air must exit the actuator, it is forced through a restricted opening. That restriction creates back pressure inside the cylinder, which resists the piston’s movement and slows the actuator. You can adjust the throttle to set the desired speed without changing supply pressure. Increasing supply pressure would mainly affect force, not the controlled speed in this arrangement; changing actuator diameter changes force and stroke but not the throttled exhaust effect; reducing exhaust would reduce back pressure and speed up rather than slow it. The essential idea is that applying back pressure to the actuator via the restricted exhaust is what controls the speed.