When the load on a pneumatic cylinder increases, the air inside the cylinder undergoes greater compression. Unlike hydraulic oil, air is a compressible fluid—its volume changes as the pressure rises. As the piston encounters more resistance from the load, the pressure in the chamber increases, and the air molecules are pushed closer together. This compression reduces the effective movement of the piston for the same volume of supplied air.

As a result, the cylinder becomes slightly more “elastic” under high loads, and its response may appear smoother or slower. Understanding this behavior is essential for controlling precision, speed, and force in pneumatic systems.

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