Limitations of Pneumatic Systems

Although pneumatic systems possess a lot of advantages, they are also subject to many
limitations.

(i) Relatively low accuracy

As pneumatic systems are powered by the force provided by compressed air, their operation is subject to the volume of the compressed air. As the volume of air may change when compressed or
heated, the supply of air to the system may not be accurate, causing a decrease in the overall
accuracy of the system.

(ii) Low loading

As the cylinders of pneumatic components are not very large, a pneumatic system cannot drive
loads that are too heavy.

(iii) Processing required before use

Compressed air must be processed before use to ensure the absence of water vapour or dust.
Otherwise, the moving parts of the pneumatic components may wear out quickly due to friction.

(iv) Uneven moving speed

As air can easily be compressed, the moving speeds of the pistons are relatively uneven.

(v) Noise

Noise will be produced when compressed air is released from the pneumatic components.