Rexroth A10VSO 31 series axial piston pump A10VSO18 hydraulic pump

The A10VSO18 is a variable-displacement axial piston pump built on the swashplate design, manufactured by Bosch Rexroth as part of the A10VSO Series 31 range. "18" refers to its geometric displacement — 18 cm³ per revolution — which sits toward the smaller end of a family that spans from roughly 18 cc up to 180 cc per revolution across the full series.

How the Pump Works: The Swashplate Principle

It's worth slowing down on the mechanics here, because understanding the swashplate principle explains almost every design decision in the pump.

The Basic Cycle

1. The drive shaft rotates the cylinder block, which contains nine pistons arranged in a circle parallel to the shaft axis.

2. Each piston's shoe rides against a swashplate that sits at an angle to the rotation axis.

3. As the block turns, the angled swashplate forces each piston to slide in and out of its bore — one half of the rotation draws fluid in through the suction port, the other half pushes it out through the pressure port.

4. A valve plate directs each piston's stroke to the correct port at the correct moment.

Why Variable Displacement Matters

The swashplate isn't fixed — it pivots. Increase the angle, and each piston travels a longer stroke, pushing more fluid per revolution. Reduce the angle toward zero, and stroke length shrinks toward nothing, cutting flow output even though the shaft keeps spinning at the same speed.

This is the core advantage over a fixed-displacement gear or vane pump: the A10VSO18 can match its output to what the circuit actually needs at any given moment, rather than always producing full flow and relying on a relief valve to dump the excess. That translates directly into lower heat generation and better energy efficiency, especially in circuits with fluctuating demand.

Control Options

Bosch Rexroth offers the A10VSO Series 31 with several control types, and the choice of control is really the choice of how the swashplate angle gets adjusted:

DR (pressure control): Holds a set pressure by reducing flow as the system approaches the setpoint — classic pressure-compensated behavior.

DFR (pressure and flow control): Combines a pressure controller with flow control, useful when a circuit needs both a pressure ceiling and a controlled flow rate.

LR / LRS (load-sensing): Matches pump output to the actual flow demanded by the load, minimizing wasted energy.

EO / ER (electric proportional control): Lets an electronic signal — current or voltage — set the displacement remotely, which is common in machines with electrohydraulic control systems.

Practical Applications

Example 1: Compact Excavator Main Circuit

A compact excavator running boom, arm, and swing functions often pairs an A10VSO18 (or a tandem combination including one) with a load-sensing control. As the operator modulates joystick inputs, the pump trims its displacement to match demand, keeping fuel burn and heat generation down during light digging cycles while still delivering full flow for heavy lifts.

Example 2: Injection Molding Auxiliary Power Unit

On plastics machinery, an A10VSO18 with DFR control is a common choice for ejector or core-pull circuits that need a steady pressure ceiling with adjustable flow — precise enough to protect the mold, without the pump running at full output when the circuit is idle between cycles.

Example 3: Hydraulic Test Stand

Because the A10VSO18 is well documented, moderately sized, and available with electronic proportional control (EO/ER), it's a frequent pick for lab and test-stand builds where an operator needs to dial in a specific pressure or flow programmatically rather than through a mechanical setting.

For more information on the A10VSO18 hydraulic pump, please visit https://www.baolilaihydraulic.com/product/.

Specifications

Selection Table

Q1: Can the A10VSO28 be used in a closed-circuit system?

A1: The standard A10VSO series is designed for open-circuit applications; closed-circuit hydrostatic transmissions typically use Rexroth's A4VG or A10VG closed-circuit product lines instead.

Q2: How do I know which control type I need — DR, DFR, or LR?

A2: It depends on what the circuit needs to regulate. Pressure control (DR) alone suits circuits that mainly need a pressure ceiling. Pressure-and-flow control (DFR) suits circuits needing both a pressure limit and a controlled flow rate. Load-sensing (LR/LRS) suits circuits with multiple, varying-demand actuators where minimizing wasted flow matters most.

Q3: How to purchase an A10VSO18 hydraulic pump?

A3: You can visit https://www.baolilaihydraulic.com/contact/ to contact us and purchase our products through various methods.

Q4: What is the price and delivery time of the A10VSO18 hydraulic pump?

A4: The specific price and delivery time will be provided based on the specific model you provide.