Multiposition airless cylinders

Third Quarter 2004 Electrical switching & drive systems & components Asset Management

Motion and fluid control specialist Norgren, represented in South Africa by sole local agents Ernest Lowe, has extended its range of actuator solutions with a new, multipurpose airless cylinder. The new electric actuator can move loads of up to 11 kg, operates at very high speeds and is programmable to ensure high strike accuracies.

Suitable for use in electronics industry equipment such as pick-and-place machines, the actuator delivers high operating speeds together with precise movement control and multiple position operation. Positions can be programmed anywhere within the stroke range as the MPAC can store multiple stroke end points, each with its own defined speed, acceleration and force parameters. When attached to a programmable controller's I/O modules or a fieldbus connection, the system can be run in different modes. For set-up and testing purposes the multiposition airless cylinder can run a stored program, making it suitable for large machines with PLCs, industrial computers and smaller machines with limited I/O capability.

The actuator requires just one electrical connection to operate and when not in use, can be unplugged to conserve energy. As there is no mechanical connection between moving and stationery components there is minimal wear and tear, resulting in a long working life and high reliability. Movement is produced by means of the interaction between two magnetic fields, one field from permanent magnets located in the slider and the other from electric current in the stator motor windings. Unlike rotary motors, either motor part can move if the other part remains static.

Cylinder programming is straightforward and intuitive. Position instructions are communicated either via a laptop or by 'teaching' the unit with recorded manual movements. Information such as weight, friction and motor parameters is entered once then stored under a 'module description'. This obviates constant operator input, saving on time, money and errors and making product changeovers simple, as all that is required is the retrieval of a stored program.

For more information contact Manny Vieira, Ernest Lowe, +27 (0) 11 898 6600, [email protected], www.elco.co.za

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