Haydon Kerk’s Programmable Linear Actuator features 20 in. stroke length

Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions (www.HaydonKerk.com) has released the Haydon RoHS compliant IDEA Size 23 Non-captive Linear Actuator, which combines programmable control and high-output force, rotary to linear motion, stepper drive in a single integrated package. The linear actuator delivers an output force of up to 200 lb ft (890 N) and linear travel per step ranging between 0.000125″ (0.0031 mm) and 0.005″ (0.127 mm).

Featuring an easy-to-use graphic user interface, the configuration of the IDEA programmable linear actuator offers a stroke length of up to 20 inches with various screw pitches, effectively enabling fine-resolution linear motion. The programmable linear actuator is ideally suited for precision fluid dispensing, motion systems for optics and lasers, small gantry robots, high-resolution imaging as well as in other applications demanding precision linear motion.

Instead of using proprietary programming languages or other complicated command sets, the actuator is programmed using an on-screen graphic buttons. Using interactive debug feature, the software enables the system designer to troubleshoot programs easily through multiple-line or line-by-line program execution. Inputs and outputs can also be simulated in the software before connecting actual I/O hardware.

The IDEA programmable linear actuator also features eight opto-isolated general purpose I/O, 3.85 Arms max rated current per phase with a 30 percent boost current capability for ramping and a single supply voltage of 12 to 75 VDC. The inputs are rated for five VDC to 24 VDC, 4mA maximum per input, while the outputs are open collector, five VDC to 24 VDC, 200mA max per output.

Programmable Linear Actuator from Haydon Kerk

Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions has broadened its IDEA™ line of programmable linear actuators with a RoHS compliant, easy-to-use electronic drive and fully programmable control unit integrated with a linear actuator. The compact, versatile unit is ideally suited for equipment or systems that require a small footprint. The IDEA platform also has added the capability of communication using an RS-485 data protocol, overcoming the limitations of other drive communication methods and making the RS-485 IDEA programmable linear actuator perfect for industrial applications.

The main advantage for using the RS-485 protocol, especially for industrial equipment such as stepper drives, industrial motor drives, and servo systems, is the ability for long data transmissions that exhibit excellent immunity to electrical noise. The RS-485 protocol utilizes “differential” signal lines for limiting common mode noise coupling and twisted pair cabling for cancelling out induced noise current. These allow IDEA devices to communicate over a 1000-foot network without the need for termination resistors and to reach up to 256 addressable device nodes. An industrial controller can send commands to all the drives at once or control each drive separately when assigned a unique identifier, a number between 0 and 255. To download the entire IDEA Drive Communications Guide, visit www.idea-drive.com.

Among the hardware features of the IDEA Drive platform are programmable current control, a single supply voltage of 12 to 48 VDC, 2.6Arms (3.68Apeak) max rated current per phase, and 8 opto-isolated general purpose I/O. The inputs are rated for 5 to 24 VDC, 4mA max per input. The outputs are open collector, 5 to 24 VDC, 200mA maximum per output.

Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions
www.haydonkerk.com 

Thomson WhisperTrak™ Linear Actuators

Thomson Industries, Inc. introduces the new line of Thomson WhisperTrak™ Electric Linear Actuators.  Through quiet (<45 dBa), maintenance-free operation in a compact one-piece housing, the Thomson WhisperTrak linear actuator maximizes design flexibility and improves performance and user comfort in personal mobility, rehabilitation, and medical equipment applications where reliability, small size and low noise are primary design considerations.  These attributes also make the Thomson WhisperTrak actuator an ideal solution in office and domestic-use equipment.  Thomson WhisperTrak actuators comply with all relevant certificates and are built in accordance with ISO 9000.

A completely sealed, IP67 enclosure enables the WhisperTrak electric linear actuator to provide true maintenance-free operation throughout the entire life of the actuator, even with regular exposure to washdown, rain, dust or other particulates.  Even in these conditions, the WhisperTrak actuator is rated to provide a minimum of 10,000 cycles, defined as one full stroke back and forth, at maximum load.  Reducing the stroke and/or the load will naturally increase operating life.

Thomson WhisperTrak electric linear actuators are available off-the-shelf with optional electronic limit switches (ELS) and anti-rotation options.  These options do not increase the housing size, but fit within the compact envelope of the standard WhisperTrak model.

Thomson WhisperTrak actuators operate at 12 or 24 VDC, and are rated to handle static and dynamic loads up to 2000 N (450 lbs.) at speeds up to 5.8 mm/s (0.23 in/s).  They are available with standard stroke lengths of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 cm; custom stroke lengths are available.

Thomson
www.thomsonlinear.com

 

N-216 PiezoWalk Linear Actuator travels up to 20mm

Physik Instrumente (www.physikinstrumente.com) has announced the release of its latest ultra-precision nanopositioning linear actuators that deliver push/pull forces up to 600 N (130 lb) and travel ranges up to 20 mm. The N-216 PiezoWalk Linear Actuator operates on the principle of coordination motion of various highly preloaded shear and linear piezo components acting on a ceramic runner.

The new linear actuators excel when tough requirements for stability, lifetime, force and precision are paramount, making them suitable for applications in hard-to-access internals of instruments, where vibration cancellation and/or nanometer-realm adjustments are demanded. The PiezoWalk controller promotes long life by reducing the operating voltage on the piezo components to zero without affecting the entire holding force of up to 800 N (177 lbs).

Its piezoceramic shear and clamping components directly act on a moving runner coupled to the load. For long distance movements and maximum velocity, the runner is driven in full step mode, while constant velocity and extremely uniform movements are achieved using nanostepping mode. Aside from combining piezo-class precision with long travel ranges, the PiezoWalk drives also deliver a high-dynamics analog operation mode (100’s of Hz) in smaller distances (up to six µm).

Offered in a selection of two variants for closed- or open-loop operation, the N-216 linear motor are also available in two different load configurations. Its closed-loop variants feature a linear encoder for the moving runner’s direct position measurements. The encoder offers five nm resolution across the full travel range. Meanwhile, a position loop resolution of up to 30 picometers can be achieved during open-loop operation by using the analog operation mode.

Isotech unveils plug-and-play and off-the-shelf linear belt drives and actuators

Isotech Inc. (www.isotechinc.com) has launched a full range of plug-and-play and off-the-shelf linear belt drives and actuators. Plug-and-play products include a motor, actuator as well as PLC for out of box operation for various automation applications, while off-the-shelf models are offered in standard configurations for faster delivery.

The company’s plug-and-play belt driven actuators enable buyers to choose from a range of products with famous specifications. The products can also be configured through options such as single or double shaft types, selected drive shaft location and various standard travel lengths up to 2,242 millimeters.

The options are specifically designed to deliver a durable, maintenance free and accurate solution for linear motion applications.

“With the addition of the off-the-shelf and plug-and-play configurations, finding fast solutions for automation applications are easier than ever,” said Joe Casillo, President of Isotech.

“Ideal applications for the plug-and-play and standard belt drives include university settings or automated robotics that perform simple tasks common in gantries and lifts.”

With travel lengths ranging between 184 mm and 2,242 mm, the company’s linear belt drives and actuators are also feature maximum load capacities of 25 lbs to 2,500 lbs, and speed ranging from 1,270 mm/sec to 15,240 mm/sec. The force of the belt drives range from 100 lbs. to 2,500 lbs.

The company also offers plastic and steel bearings to meet the demands of light-duty to extra heavy-duty motion applications. The plastic bearings eliminates the need for lubrication, while the steel bearings are available with lifetime lubrication.

“Our belt drives feature a steel reinforced polyurethane belt that helps deliver repeatable positioning by preventing belt stretching,” Casillo said of the actuators’ accuracy.

He also emphasized that the company’s belt drives require no lubrication and maintenance when utilized under normal operating conditions.

Nanotec’s electrical linear actuator comes in 56 mm

Nanotec Electronic (en.nanotec.com) has expanded its electrical linear motor’s upper range with the addition of the new L5918 model (56 mm, Nema 23).

The new model features a low-friction threaded drive bushing that consists of high-performance thermoplastic material. Its distinctive compatibility with Plug and Drive motors allows for simplified designing of efficient, built-in linear systems.

Offering step resolution of 0.01 mm in full step, the L5918 can also achieve resolutions of up to 0.001 mm in micro-step and with an encoder.

The L5918 linear actuator is available in 200 mm long lead screw with two mm pitch, making it suitable with an anti-rotational-safeguarded pushrod or for external clamping system, for rigid and highly dynamic machine designs or multi-rotor operation, and as a ready-to-install linear positioning drive.

Closed loop-capable, the new linear actuator can also be used as an appropriate controller together with field-oriented control, and high-pole servomotor with an encoder, which is offered as a standard option.

This highly customizable product can also be combined with an integrated controller, like the PD4-N Plug & Drive motor.

Its motor, linear axis, controller coupling and encoder help create a compact package for linear positioning — which is a major advantage, especially if manual format adjustment will be automated in current machinery.

The threaded bushings of Nanotec’s hybrid linear actuators are made of polyetheretherketone high-performance plastic. This makes the linear actuators extremely wear resistant, even when exposed to high mechanical and thermal loading.

Aside from providing better sliding features than traditional bronze threaded bushings, Nanotec’s thermoplastic nuts are twice as efficient and offer lesser friction. The self-lubricating nuts require less maintenance while offering extended life cycle to the motor.

Festo unveils new DNCE electromechanical rod actuators

Festo (www.festo.com), one of the world’s leading suppliers of pneumatic and electrical automation technology, has expanded its extensive portfolio of electromechanical actuators to include its latest electromechanical rod actuators, DNCE.

A screw-driven linear actuator, the DNCE electromechanical rod actuator comes with a nonrotating round piston rod. It also serves as a drop-in alternative for the Festo DNC as well as to other pneumatic cylinders compliant with ISO standard 6431 during conversions from pneumatic to electromechanical automation.

Providing high precision and flexibility, the new electromechanical rod actuators is an ideal solution for motion control applications that demands critical positioning accuracy.

The new electromechanical rod actuator is offered either as part of a Festo solution seamlessly combined with an MTR-DCI intelligent controller and motor, or as an independent mechanical axis to be mounted to a third party motor or a Festo motor. The DNCE electromechanical rod actuator is also available either with a ball screw or a lead screw, which enables it to meet the demands of varying performance requirements.

The lead screw driven DNCE electromechanical rod actuator is self-braking for safety, while the ball screw-driven DNCE offers higher feed velocities, higher precision and repeatability. It also has longer duty cycles as compared to pneumatic actuators. Repeatability of lead screw driven actuator is – +/- 0.07 mm, while that of the ball screw is – +/- 0.02 mm.

The motor mounting of the new DNCE electromechanical rod actuator can be configured as a reverse parallel mount (U) or axially (A).

With proximity sensors that can be easily mounted into sensor slots, the new electromechanical rod actuator is also available in custom and standard stoke lengths of up to 600 mm.

Electric vehicle barriers features GSX40 actuato

With linear actuators from Exlar (www.exlar.com), Robotic Security Systems (www.rssi.com), a vehicle security barriers manufacturer, has launched the RS-2000, an electric barrier that is reliable, simple to install and operate, and cost-effective to maintain.

“The main difference between a hydraulic barrier and an electric barrier is performance. With electric motors, the barrier can operate faster—with more duty cycles and operations in a given time period—without sacrificing reliability,” said Bill Jempty, RSSI VP of Sales and Marketing.

Exlar’s GSX40 actuator provided RSSI the advantages of brushless servo design and roller screw technology. Featuring planetary rollers fitted around the extending rod of the actuator that follow threads, the roller screw mechanism converted electric motor power within the actuator into linear motion.

“The GSX40 … allowed us to move our barrier up and down faster with a higher number of duty cycles,” said Jempty. “The servomotor was especially helpful because it knows where the barrier is at all points in its operation. With the old style you only knew if the barrier was up or down.”

Aside from its capacity to support heavy loads at high speeds, GSX40’s roller screw mechanism provided it with longer functional life attributed to its larger cumulative contact surface.

Delivering high speeds of 3000 rpm that translates into 10in/sec for the barrier, the actuator’s compact system permits for high torque even at the speed of 0. K-12 certified, RSS-2000’s actuator back-up battery system allows for 300 more uses even after its power has gone out.

Exlar’s EXP-24 Positioner controls linear and rotary actuators

Exlar Corporation (www.exlar.com) has announced the release of EXP-24 Positioner, which can be utilized to control most of the company’s three-phase rotary and linear actuators, including ER115 rotary and EL100 linear actuators.

Fitted in a robust, IP66-rated housing, the ATEX (Directive 94/9/EC) and CSA regulations compliant positioner is designed with a brushless servo motor amplifier and a 24VDC motion controller and has the capability to power most of the market’s resolver feedback brushless motors. Following an analog input signal, the EXP-24 Positioner provides the functionality to position a damper or a valve. It also offers position feedback through an analog input. The positioner’s operating temperature range of -29°C to 82°C is suitable for process control applications. The EXP-24 features additional motion modes to enable it to cater to the widest range of motion control applications.

Specifically engineered for analog control, Exlar’s positioner allows easy integration into factory-wide process systems through its isolated RS485 Modbus serial interface. Various diagnostics features are also made available including following error, real time monitoring, input and output status, position error, communication diagnostics, data logger and a multi-channel oscilloscope.

The EXP-24’s explosion-proof rating, robust packaging and high performance make it ideal for an extensive range of applications, including shipboard fuel management systems, valve and damper control, fuel skids, engine test stands, oil wells and platforms, printing presses and paint booths.

Exlar’s actuators support Ethernet-based communication protocol

Exlar (www.exlar.com) has announced the release of its latest Ethernet-based communications protocol, which is supported by Modbus TCP/IP, Tritex II linear and rotary actuators of the company. The Ethernet connection is integrated in M12 connectors in order to maintain standard connectivity.

The Modbus TCP protocol is paired with another protocol, the Modbus RTU, which is supported by the convenience of Ethernet connectivity through the company’s Tritex product portfolio.

Aside from the Modbus TCP support, Exlar Expert software also provides improved functionality for users of Modbus commands through a PLC or HMI.

Exlar also offers a unique Modbus Mapping table, which enables users to map all parameters they want to use in a contiguous register bank that is comprised of 100 registers. Now users can focus on programming the PLC since the table eliminates the need to dig into manuals searching for individual parameter addresses. Rather than forcing the PLC program to read numerous data that might not all be used, the table allows the PLC to make a single write operation and a single read operation to the selected registers.

Operating from 100V AC to 240V AC, the Tritex II actuators allow direct connection to power sources of factories. Its optimized software features include 16 programmable indexes, while the actuator’s Modbus port linked moves and firmware flash upgrade capability. The port offers the actuator complete monitoring and programming control of all its aspect, while it performs an application via the RS/485 protocol.

Customers can choose from various communications options including HART, Ethernet IP, CAN J1939 and CAN Open protocols.

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