Calculating Cylinder Thickness

Knowing the yield stress of the chosen material:

• Take a theoretical slice along a diameter and do a force balance.
• Take a theoretical slice across a diameter and do a force balance.
• Whichever is the greater minimum thickness of material from those calculations, multiply by a good factor for safety.

This calculator may help with the equations.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/stress-thick-walled-tube-d_949.html

The given shortcut for calculation of cylinder wall based on pressure is a very good shot. Just do not forget to add the possible side loads and moments that the cylinder is expected (or not...) to observe during operation, specially if you're thinking about making it light. If not really, that good safety factor can handle. Any diameter is feasible. What you must preview is if the area times the pressure is enough for your load, if you can properly manufacture it, and if your air supply is capable of extending or retracting it in the desired speed. Just another thing that I remember, if you are thinking of loading the cylinder in the retract movement, you should preview the load capacity change based on the difference of the cylinder area under inside the cylinder, and between the cylinder rod and the outer cylinder. After all, its always a good idea to check the costs about manufacturing it and purchasing one. And maybe replacing it by a smaller one with a mechanical linkage to allow its use. Just wandering. I have just finished a project for a cleaning tank with pneumatic elevator, and had to do something like this.