When a hydraulic cylinder is required with a non-standard stroke, changing the stroke length is not necessarily the only engineering consideration.
The cylinder body, mounting holes, installation dimensions and overall stability of the assembly may also need to be reviewed to ensure that the cylinder can be correctly integrated into the mold.
A Vega technical case concerned a request for hydraulic cylinders with 410 mm and 370 mm strokes, while maintaining a specific installation dimension of X = 310 mm. The technical discussion focused particularly on the fixing-hole configuration and on whether additional mounting holes should be introduced to prevent movement of the cylinder during the pushing phase.
When a standard cylinder requires a special stroke
The current Vega range identifies the V220CC as a long-stroke compact hydraulic cylinder. Its standard configuration covers strokes from 20 to 350 mm.
A requested stroke of 370 mm or 410 mm therefore goes beyond the currently published standard range for this series and requires a special evaluation.
In the technical case, the Customer requested a 410 mm stroke and asked the Vega Team to verify the drawing before proceeding with the order.
This type of verification is particularly important when the cylinder has to fit into an existing mold where the mounting interface and surrounding components have already been defined.
The X dimension can remain unchanged
The Customer specifically asked whether the X dimension could remain at 310 mm for both the 410 mm and 370 mm stroke versions.
The Vega Team confirmed:
X = 310 mm for both configurations.
This is an important point when designing a special cylinder.
A change in stroke does not necessarily mean that every external dimension must change. Individual dimensions can sometimes remain based on the standard configuration, provided that the complete assembly is technically feasible.
Fixing-hole dimensions must also be checked
The Customer also asked which fixing-hole diameter should be used.
The discussion compared two configurations:
- ST Ø10.5 mm, associated with the CC configuration;
- ST Ø8.5 mm, associated with the CS documentation.
The Vega Team confirmed that the special configuration could use ST Ø10.5 mm fixing holes, following the standard V220 configuration.
This is a useful example of how a special cylinder can retain standard interface characteristics while modifying other dimensions to meet the application’s requirements.
Why fixing holes become important with a special configuration
When a cylinder is installed in a mold, the body must remain securely positioned while the piston generates the required force.
The mounting system therefore has to be considered together with:
- cylinder stroke;
- cylinder body dimensions;
- fixing-hole position;
- mold structure;
- direction of the applied force;
- available installation space.
In this case, the Vega Team suggested evaluating two additional fixing holes on the rear side of the body, with their position to be defined, to prevent movement during the pushing phase.
The proposal was therefore related to the stability of the complete cylinder assembly rather than simply to the cylinder’s stroke.
Additional fixing points can improve cylinder stability
The technical case demonstrates an important engineering principle:
When a cylinder configuration changes, its mounting system should be reviewed as part of the same design process.
The Vega Team referred to the V210CS as an example of a configuration with six fixing holes.
The current V210CS documentation confirms that this series uses a specific mounting arrangement with passing-through holes and a key. It is designed for unscrewing applications in plastic injection molds.
V210CS Hydraulic Cylinders for Unscrewing Systems — Official Vega product page for the V210CS series and its mounting configuration.
The reference to another cylinder series does not mean that the same mounting arrangement should automatically be copied. In the technical case, it was used as an example of a cylinder with additional fixing points.
The position of additional holes must be defined on the drawing
The two proposed additional holes were not assigned a final position in the initial discussion.
The Vega Team suggested evaluating their addition and defining their position according to the application.
This is an appropriate approach for a special hydraulic-cylinder configuration.
The position of an additional fixing hole may depend on:
- available space in the mold;
- surrounding components;
- force direction;
- accessibility for assembly;
- existing mounting surfaces;
- interference with hydraulic connections.
For this reason, the final position should be established on the engineering drawing rather than assumed from a standard configuration.
Additional machining may involve an extra cost
The technical response also clearly stated that the eventual additional fixing holes would be considered special holes with an additional cost.
This is an important consideration when requesting customized hydraulic cylinders.
A modification that appears relatively simple from a mechanical perspective can require:
- additional machining;
- drawing revision;
- dimensional verification;
- production planning;
- special-order management.
The final quotation should therefore distinguish between the standard cylinder configuration and any special machining required for the application.
The V220CC is designed for mold applications
The current V220CC is described by Vega as a long-stroke compact hydraulic cylinder intended for linear movement in molds.
Its main applications include moving components such as carts, pins and plugs that can create undercuts in plastic injection molds. The cylinder uses a 7075 aluminum-alloy body with steel flanges.
V220CC Long-Stroke Compact Hydraulic Cylinders — Official Vega product page with the V220CC’s standard stroke range, construction, mounting options and customization information.
The V220CC also offers relatively simple customization according to customer requirements, which is particularly relevant when a standard configuration does not exactly match the mold.
Standard mounting and special mounting
Vega’s current V220CC range includes configurations using longitudinal through holes and key-way clamping, with different hydraulic-oil delivery arrangements depending on the version.
V220CC Block Cylinder – Key-Way Clamping and Through Holes — Official Vega product page showing a V220CC configuration with key-way clamping and longitudinal through holes.
This illustrates why the exact cylinder configuration is important when checking interchangeability.
The cylinder model alone may not provide enough information. The complete configuration must also be considered.
A special stroke does not necessarily mean a completely custom cylinder
An interesting aspect of this technical case is that the solution did not require every characteristic of the cylinder to be redesigned.
The Vega Team confirmed that the X = 310 mm dimension could remain unchanged and that the ST Ø10.5 mm fixing holes could follow the standard V220 configuration.
Only the characteristics required by the special application needed to be adapted.
This is an efficient approach to customization:
retain standard dimensions where possible → modify only the required characteristics → verify the complete drawing.
It can reduce unnecessary changes while still producing a cylinder suitable for the mold.
Why the 2D drawing is important
For a standard cylinder, the catalogue may provide enough information to identify the required configuration.
For a special cylinder, however, the 2D drawing becomes an essential part of the approval process.
In this case, the Vega Team confirmed that a 2D drawing would be supplied in case of order.
The drawing allows the Customer and the manufacturer to verify:
- stroke;
- overall dimensions;
- X dimension;
- fixing-hole diameter;
- fixing-hole position;
- mounting interfaces;
- special machining;
- possible interference with the mold.
This verification should take place before manufacturing.
The drawing should be checked against the actual mold
A hydraulic-cylinder drawing should not be checked in isolation.
The Customer should compare the cylinder drawing with the mold assembly and verify:
- cylinder position;
- piston movement;
- available space;
- mounting surfaces;
- fixing-hole positions;
- hydraulic connections;
- possible interference with other components;
- final position of the moving mechanism.
This becomes particularly important when the stroke is longer than the standard configuration.
Longer stroke means reviewing the complete mechanical system
The stroke of a cylinder determines how far the piston can move, but the mold mechanism determines how that movement is actually used.
The required stroke should therefore be checked against:
- initial position;
- final position;
- mechanical stops;
- moving slides or plates;
- available space;
- rod-end connection.
Vega’s technical documentation also emphasizes that stroke selection must be considered in relation to the actual mold mechanism rather than as an isolated catalogue parameter.
How to Design the End-of-Stroke Position of a Hydraulic Cylinder in a Three-Plate Injection Mold — Official Vega technical article about defining cylinder stroke, mechanical end positions and the relationship between the cylinder and the mold mechanism.
Customization is useful when the mold is already defined
One of the main advantages of a customized cylinder is the possibility of adapting the cylinder to the existing mold rather than redesigning the mold around a standard cylinder.
Vega’s current hydraulic-cylinder documentation explicitly states that standard fixing combinations can be customized according to customer requirements.
Hydraulic Cylinders for Injection Molds — Official Vega overview of hydraulic cylinders for injection molds, including standard and customizable fixing configurations.
This can be particularly valuable when the mold has already been manufactured and changing the mold structure would be expensive or impractical.
A practical checklist for special-stroke cylinders
When requesting a hydraulic cylinder with a non-standard stroke, it is useful to provide the following information.
1. Required stroke
Clearly specify the exact required stroke.
In the technical case, the requested configurations were 370 mm and 410 mm.
2. Critical installation dimensions
Identify dimensions that must remain unchanged.
Here, the critical dimension was:
X = 310 mm.
3. Fixing-hole diameter
Specify whether the mounting holes must follow a standard configuration.
The solution confirmed in this case was:
ST Ø10.5 mm.
4. Number of fixing points
Check whether the standard number of fixing holes provides sufficient stability.
5. Possible additional fixing holes
If the cylinder could move during operation, consider additional mounting points.
The technical team proposed two additional rear holes for this reason.
6. Final 2D drawing
Review the complete drawing before confirming production.
The key lesson: do not evaluate stroke alone
The most important lesson from this technical case is that a special stroke should never be considered as an isolated modification.
The correct evaluation is:
stroke → body geometry → mounting dimensions → fixing holes → mold interface → operating stability
A cylinder can have the correct stroke and still require modifications to its mounting arrangement.
Conversely, a special cylinder does not necessarily need every dimension to be redesigned.
The objective is to identify exactly which dimensions must change and which can remain standard.
Conclusion
A special hydraulic-cylinder stroke can require a broader engineering review than simply changing the piston travel.
In the Vega technical case, the requested configurations had 370 mm and 410 mm strokes, while the critical X dimension was maintained at 310 mm for both versions.
The fixing-hole configuration was also clarified: the cylinders could use ST Ø10.5 mm holes, following the standard V220 configuration.
At the same time, the Vega Team suggested evaluating two additional fixing holes on the rear side of the cylinder body to prevent movement during the pushing phase. These holes would be considered special machining and would involve an additional cost.
The final 2D drawing would then provide the necessary reference for confirming the complete special configuration before production.
The main engineering principle is therefore:
When a hydraulic cylinder is customized for a mold, stroke, mounting dimensions and fixing stability should be evaluated together—not separately.
Useful and Verified URLs
- V220CC Long-Stroke Compact Hydraulic Cylinders — Official Vega product page with the V220CC standard stroke range, construction, mounting options and customization information.
- V220CC Block Cylinder – Key-Way Clamping and Through Holes — Official Vega page showing a V220CC configuration with key-way clamping and longitudinal through holes.
- V210CS Hydraulic Cylinders for Unscrewing Systems — Official Vega page for the V210CS, referenced in the technical case as an example of a configuration with multiple fixing points.
- Hydraulic Cylinders for Injection Molds — Official Vega overview of hydraulic cylinders for injection molds and customizable fixing configurations.
- Hydraulic Cylinder Catalog — Official Vega catalogue covering the company’s hydraulic-cylinder families and applications.
- How to Design the End-of-Stroke Position of a Hydraulic Cylinder in a Three-Plate Injection Mold — Official Vega technical article about stroke definition, mechanical end positions and cylinder integration into injection molds.
