A
You have a drawing
Send the PDF, DWG or STEP file. We take dimensions, mounting and port positions from it and settle any outstanding material and sealing decisions with you.
[HYC]Custom cylinders · made to drawing
Custom hydraulic cylinders made to your drawing. Your dimensions, our engineering.
Bespoke manufacture for duties a catalogue cylinder cannot cover: a different mounting, a non-standard stroke, a tight envelope, a special port position, position sensing, a corrosive or hot environment. From your drawing, sample or duty data, we design the cylinder, build it in İzmir, pressure-test every unit and supply its engineering file.
[01]Starting point
We start from whatever you have.
B
You have a sample
Send the cylinder, or photographs and measurements. We reverse-engineer it into 2D/3D drawings for your approval.
C
You only have duty data
Send force, stroke, working pressure, speed, mounting orientation and environment. We set bore, rod and construction; the free Drawing Studio shows a first draft within minutes.
[02]Design
A custom cylinder is a calculated cylinder.
"Custom" is often read as a change of dimensions; the real work is calculation. On a long stroke, buckling, not force, sets the rod diameter; at high speed cushioning governs, in a tight installation the mounting style, in a hot environment the seal material. We run strength and buckling calculations for every custom cylinder, note the key decisions and reasons on the drawing, and submit the 2D drawing and 3D CAD model for approval.
The approved drawing goes under revision control, so repeat orders are built to the same revision; any change gets a new revision number and needs your approval. The engineering file supplied with the cylinder holds the 2D/3D drawings, the buckling calculation, the signed, serialised test report and, on request, 3.1 material certificates (EN 10204). Cylinders of our own manufacture carry a 12-month warranty from invoice date under our terms of sale.
[03]Options
Six decisions settled on the drawing.
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Mounting style
Rear clevis or eye, spherical-bearing eye, front or rear flange, foot, intermediate trunnion; to ISO 6020-1, ISO 6020-2 and ISO 6022 dimensions or your drawing.
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Rod and tube
European hard-chrome-plated rod (ISO f7, Ra ≤ 0.25 µm); European cold-drawn, honed tube (ISO H8, Ra ≤ 0.4 µm). Per project: induction-hardened chrome for severe duty; nickel-chrome duplex or HVOF tungsten-carbide coating for severe or marine duty.
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Sealing
Seal sets and guide rings from Kastaş, Trelleborg and equivalent European brands, matched to temperature, speed and fluid (mineral oil, water-glycol/HFC, biodegradable oil).
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Cushioning
One or both ends, fixed or needle-valve adjustable; absorbs end-of-stroke impact at high speed or with heavy masses.
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Position sensing
Integrated magnetostrictive linear transducer; inductive end-of-stroke sensors; SIL2-capable variants on request for servo duty (see HYC-S).
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Ports and finish
SAE flange, G (BSPP) or metric threaded ports, positioned where you need them; topcoat in your RAL colour.
All options go into one ordering code, explained with the standard dimensions on the hydraulic cylinders page. Hydrocyl families: HYC-N (ISO 6020-1), HYC-T (ISO 6020-2), HYC-F (ISO 6022), HYC-W welded, HYC-M mill type and HYC-S servo. See also hydraulic press cylinders and, from Ø500 mm up, large bore hydraulic cylinders.
[04]Capacity and delivery
What sizes do we build?
Ø25–1,000 mm
Bore — standard to Ø400, project to Ø1,000
12 m
Stroke — project ceiling (standard 4,000 mm)
400 bar
Working pressure — project ceiling
<10 weeks
Design approval to ex-works
Every custom cylinder is tested to ISO 10100 at working pressure and at 1.5× working pressure; the signed, serialised test report ships with it. Body welds are made under EN ISO 3834-2 and inspected by Level II certified NDT personnel. Export consignments go in ISPM 15 heat-treated timber crates, ports plugged. We hold ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certification.
Cylinders are built at our works in the İzmir Atatürk Organised Industrial Zone (Çiğli) and exported to Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom. Incoterms are agreed per order. The London office handles UK and European accounts; factory audits are welcome.
[05]Common mistakes
Six design mistakes in custom cylinders, and the fixes.
These six errors recur in cylinders that come to us for replacement or that failed early in service. We catch them at design stage, usually with one question.
01
Undersized rod
Rod sized for force, not buckling, on a long stroke. Fix: Euler check on the buckling length for the mounting style; larger rod or stop tube if needed.
02
Wrong mounting style
Fixed flange or foot mounting where the load swings through an arc or is misaligned, side-loading rod and bearings. Fix: choose the mounting from motion geometry and load.
03
High speed without cushioning
A heavy mass hits metal to metal at end of stroke, soon damaging seals and end cap. Fix: adjustable cushioning or circuit speed control.
04
Seals unsuited to the environment
Standard NBR/PU seals at high temperature, in fire-resistant fluid (HFC water-glycol, HFD) or outdoors. Fix: FKM, PTFE or hydrolysis-resistant PU seals and guide rings to suit temperature, speed and fluid.
05
Port position and hose routing
The port forces a tight hose bend or leaves the fitting unreachable once installed. Fix: mark the installed orientation on the drawing; place ports to suit.
06
Uncontrolled synchronisation
Two "identical" cylinders will not stay in step unaided: load share and friction differ, so a position error builds. Fix: flow divider, mechanical link or closed-loop control with integrated position transducers, as accuracy demands; build the set matched for stroke behaviour and test it together.
For what drives the price, see hydraulic cylinder cost; for supplier checks, see choosing a hydraulic cylinder manufacturer.
[06]Illustrative example
How does an order proceed from duty data alone?
An illustrative case. A machine builder sends only figures: 180 kN push force, 1,600 mm stroke, 210 bar system pressure, vertical mounting, pivoted at both ends (rear clevis below, rod eye above), indoor workshop. First we set the bore from force and pressure (Ø110–125 mm range), then run the buckling calculation. For a pin-ended cylinder this long, it puts the rod diameter well above what force alone requires; usually the heavy rod option is chosen and, if necessary, the next bore size up.
Second, we settle sealing (workshop, mineral oil, low speed → standard PU/NBR seal set), cushioning (any mass to stop at end of stroke?) and port position (hose routing). Third, we send the 2D/3D drawing and a quotation with price and lead time; on approval, manufacture begins.
[07]Frequently asked
Custom cylinders: frequently asked questions.
What do I need to order a custom hydraulic cylinder?
One of three things: a drawing (PDF/DWG/STEP), an existing sample, or duty data (force, stroke, pressure, speed, mounting orientation). Quantity, fluid, ambient temperature and required delivery date speed up the quotation.
What is the lead time for a hydraulic cylinder made to drawing?
Under 10 weeks ex-works after design approval. For very large bore project cylinders with long material lead times, the date is stated in the quotation.
Do you make one-off custom cylinders?
Yes. One-offs and series production follow the same calculation, test and documentation process. On a one-off, design and CNC programming time is carried in the unit price; on repeat orders that share falls.
Can you make a like-for-like replacement cylinder?
Yes. Send the sample or its dimensions. We often suggest small material or sealing improvements that extend service life; the decision is yours.
What bore and pressure can a bespoke hydraulic cylinder reach?
Standard production covers bores Ø25–400 mm and rods Ø16–280 mm, with strokes to 4,000 mm. Project cylinders go to Ø1,000 mm bore, Ø700 mm rod, 12,000 mm stroke and 400 bar working pressure.
No drawing? That is fine. Describe the application.
Force, stroke, pressure and mounting orientation are enough; the rest is engineering. Within 48 hours we reply with an application data sheet covering price and lead time. Or contact us.
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