SMAC Moving Coil Actuators has announced release of their next generation Very Low Cost (VLC) single axis DC brushed/brushless motor controller/driver. With a price of $250 for stand-alone ($200 for built in types) the VLC represents another 35% drop in price compared to many of the company’s previous controllers … and with no loss in […]
Mini + piezo + voice coil
Electric actuators displace other motion options — including manual designs: A Motion Trends report
Today, electric actuators are easier than ever to specify and install. Value-add services from component suppliers as well as application-specific actuator product lines (especially for battery-powered designs in mobile equipment and consumer use) eliminate many integration tasks for OEMs and end users. These are trends supported in part by a movement Design World has tracked […]
New linear rotary actuator features 35-mm stroke with 5-micron encoder
The LCR16 from SMAC Moving Coil Actuators provides precision Z-theta motion within one small actuator, which is suitable for pick, orient and place applications. A wide variety of LCR16 linear rotary actuators are available with either direct drive or gearbox equipped rotary units. The vacuum-built-in shaft through the rotary motor is available for some models […]
New piezo driver with 1,200 W of power for fast switching applications
PI (Physik Instrumente) has released the new model E-619, a high-power piezo amplifier designed to drive high-capacitance multilayer piezo actuators with rapid rise times or high frequencies. As a special form of electro-ceramics, piezo materials are the gold standard when it comes to speed, force, and precision in a small package. Providing sink/source currents up […]
Moving coil technology: Benefits today (and innovations on horizon)
Moving coils have been around for many years. Now though, market pressures are causing the technology to rapidly evolve and gain in use. This technology competes most directly against pneumatic drives and moving-magnet rotary motors. By Ed Neff • President | SMAC Moving Coil Actuators (MCA) Moving coil technology works in both rotary and linear […]
Moticont high-resolution electric cylinders include integrated encoder
SDLM-025-070-01-01 and SDLM-025-070-01-05 direct drive linear motors from Moticont, also known as electric cylinders, have built-in encoders, and feature high acceleration, high speed, high resolution, zero backlash, and zero cogging. These compact direct-drive linear motors with quiet linear plain bearings are just 1.00 in. (25.4 mm) in diameter and 2.75 in (69.9 mm) long. Protected […]
When did the most common linear-actuator options come about?
This is the first of several technical notes on the technology known as moving coil actuators. Here we provide a brief history of linear actuators used in automation — and hint at where moving coil actuators are suitable. By Ed Neff • President | SMAC Moving Coil Actuators (MCA) Hydraulic actuators came first. These devices […]
What are walking piezo motors?
Piezo motors that produce linear motion include linear ultrasonic piezo motors, linear stepper piezo motors, and piezo inertia motors. Although their construction and principles of operation are different, all three designs harness the inverse piezoelectric effect — in which a piezo material expands or contracts when electrical energy is applied — to produce linear movement in a […]
Compact voice-coil motors from Moticont with 1.0-in. diameters for myriad stroke requirements
Moticont now sells linear voice coil motors (LVCMs) in two 1-in. (25.4-mm) diameter motors. • The LVCM-025-022-01 has a stroke length of 0.375 in. (9.5 mm) a mid-stroke length of 1.30 in. (33 mm) and a high-force-to-size ratio of 16.9 oz (4.7 N) and a peak force of 53.5 oz. (14.9 N) at 10% duty […]
New SMAC LBL25 linear actuators — fast, cost-competitive, and stackable
SMAC Moving Coil Actuators now sells LBL series linear actuators — price competitive with ball screw and high-cycle-rate air cylinders thanks to a simple no-milling plate design. The LBL design features flat printed coil and single-piece, screw down magnets. It’s equipped with SMAC proprietary encoder and gives more than 100 million cycle expected life. Starting […]
