White Papers, Catalogs, Case Studies and Resources for Engineers and Professionals
This paper looks at machines with non-Cartesian movement systems. These include SCARA robots, PUMA-style arms, Delta Robots, and a variety of other mechanisms. These non-Cartesian mechanisms present special challenges, but there are some basic techniques that will take you a long way toward getting these useful and common mechanisms under control.
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Secure your design with our broad range of access hardware. Whatever your design requirements, our solutions deliver security, controlled access, productive operation and reduction in unnecessary repair costs. We can also help with free CAD downloads to make your selection process
even easier.
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The US government has set a target of 500,000 public EV chargers by 2030. With that growth, comes opportunity.
Our expert advice, extensive range, consistent quality and custom solutions can make all the difference, whether you’re refining your design or prototyping.
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Safeguarding the future of systems or programs that include embedded computers is critical to success. Well-developed strategies are available to help operations and program managers make a plan to navigate potential minefields. Learn how your goals can be achieved on-time and on-budget in this white paper.
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Electric rodless actuators have an inherent advantage over rod-style actuators for being able to support and carry loads. This reduces costs and design time by eliminating the need for other load-bearing and guiding elements. In contrast to rod-style actuators, a rodless actuator’s stroke lies completely within the length of its body, resulting in a smaller working footprint than rod-style actuators. In addition, electric rodless actuators can be either screw- or belt-driven, with each style having its own advantages depending on the application. However, sizing an electric rodless actuator involves more than merely calculating force and stroke. Download this white paper for the top 10 tips for achieving optimal performance, reliability and efficiency in applications using rodless-style actuators.
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In the fast-paced industrial automation industry, machine design engineers build systems that meet evolving and demanding requirements. Their choices for linear motion include a wide selection of electric actuator technologies, both integrated and traditional, to help achieve designs that are reliable and efficient. Each technology offers performance advantages depending on the application type and requirements. There are several factors to consider when evaluating integrated and traditional actuators; knowing how to assess the differences and what to compare will help engineers meet their spec requirements
This new white paper from Tolomatic compares the advantages and disadvantages of rod-style pneumatic cylinders, electric actuators and integrated electric actuators in motion control applications. The white paper also compares the effectiveness of each technology in reducing purchasing, installation and operating costs—all key issues in motion control automation today.
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Determining useful life of machines and their components is a fundamental problem of any motion system design project. In a broad sense, actuator service life (or useful life) is the period during which the actuator continues to operate and satisfy its required function. This paper discusses the causes of fatigue, factors affecting screw life, load-life relationships, dynamic and static loading and other variables that should be considered when determining actuator life expectations.
The useful life of any actuator depends on the life of the components that perform most mechanical work or carry the most load. Lead screw drives are a typical example. Service (useful) life of a lead screw can be defined as the actual life achieved by a screw before it fails for any reason. Among possible reasons for its failure are: fatigue, excessive wear, corrosion, contamination, insufficient structural strength, or loss of any function required by the application.
How do you determine the life of a screw actuator and make comparisons that are truly “apples to apples?” Examples of load-life conversion calculations contained in this paper will demonstrate the importance of load on screw life and how application requirements sometimes may have to be modified in order to achieve the desired life results.
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With today’s demand for controlling costs while achieving high speed and high precision in factory automation, it is more important than ever to fully analyze a linear actuator application and precisely determine a project’s parameters. This is especially true with electric rod-style actuators due to their higher initial cost, more advanced design and more predictable performance compared to fluid power cylinders, both pneumatic and hydraulic. Additional engineering and analysis at the front end of an electric actuator application will reduce overall costs and result in automation systems with higher reliability, better performance, lower energy expenditures and reduced maintenance.
In the hurry to get factory automation applications up and running, there is always the impulse to make educated guesses or take shortcuts. This paper will outline the top ten tips to consider during sizing to ensure optimal performance, reliability and efficiency of your electric rod-style actuator application.
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Food and beverage production on today’s industrial scale would not be possible without a high level of automation. Pneumatic, hydraulic and electric actuators are critical moving components in equipment used for processing and packaging both food and beverage products around the globe. In addition to efficient production, machines in these processes must keep food & beverage product safe by preventing bacteria, lubricating fluids or other contaminants that could harm consumers from contacting the product.
As a result of increased food safety regulations emphasizing the prevention of foodborne illnesses, the use of hygienic design principles in today’s food processing equipment has become critical. With mechanical actuators, the use of appropriate materials, methods of sealing and methods of construction are critical to eliminate collection points where bacteria can flourish and resist corrosion that could contaminate the processing environment. In addition, suitable actuators must protect against high pressure, high temperature wash-down procedures with a variety of sanitary cleaning solutions.
This paper will examine mechanical system (including actuators) hygienic design considerations that ensure performance in the challenging food and beverage processing environment and mitigate risks of contamination events.
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Hydraulic cylinders are traditionally the go-to technology for high-force linear motion, for good reasons. They deliver high force at a low cost per unit of force, they are rugged and simple to deploy. However, there’s a new technology to consider. Electric cylinders with high-force capacities are now available, and they are more flexible, precise and reliable than their hydraulic counterparts.
Compare the performance and cost of each technology and learn recommended methods for converting an application from hydraulic to electric actuation.
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