Pneumatics (and compressed air) are indispensable in many industrial applications. They’re cost-effective and easy-to-understand technologies that are rugged enough to run in even very challenging environments. The problem is that some facilities can spend up to 30% of their electricity bill on generating compressed air. Because pneumatic actuators for linear motion (which have been an […]
Pick-and-place applications with Festo tools — showing at Pack Expo
Festo offers software and hardware to shorten packaging-machine development time and reduce engineering overhead. These components, systems, and software tools will be on display at Pack Expo on September 23 to 25 at the Las Vegas Convention Center Booth LS-6349. Design a pick-and-place robot and control cabinet in minutes Festo demonstrates a Cartesian robot and […]
Which type of linear actuator is best for thrust forces?
When an application requires pure thrust forces, the best type of linear actuator is often a rod-style actuator. Also referred to as “thrust actuators” and (when a motor is integrated) “electric actuators,” these electromechanical devices excel at providing axial, or thrust, forces for pushing, pulling, or holding loads. Although their function is straightforward, thrust actuators […]
Festo at Automate 2019: OEM productivity-boosting solutions
Festo is showing electric and pneumatic motion-automation solutions at Automate 2019 April 8 to 11 at McCormick Place in Chicago — Booth 8151. Productivity-enhancing solutions include company-wide component interoperability and online tools for designing subassemblies that slash OEM engineering overhead and reduce delivery time. With the Festo Handling Guide Online, engineers can design single-axis or […]
19 new features in Bimba “Blue and Improved” air cylinder line — including Flat-1 air cylinder
Bimba, an industry-leading innovator of pneumatic, hydraulic and electric motion solutions, now offers a cutting-edge compact air cylinder – the Blue and Improved Flat-1®. Blue (as in New) and Improved designates Bimba products that have been redesigned to offer enhancements applying the most recent advances in design technology. The Blue and Improved Flat-1® features 19 new […]
Industrial-actuator manufacturer PHD Inc. celebrates 60 years in business
PHD Inc. was founded this month in 1957. Over 60 years of innovation, PHD has made automation work better and more efficiently for manufacturers around the world. The first product developed (and still popular today) was the Tom Thumb pneumatic cylinder. Today PHD manufactures a broad offering of products used for industrial automation. These actuators provide […]
Airpot introduces 5.6 mm bore anti-stiction cylinder
Airpot Corp. now sellsMP5 Airpel Plus — the newest, smallest bore cylinder in its Airpel family of Anti-Stiction air cylinders. With a bore size of only 5.6 mm and a maximum outside diameter of 9.8 mm, MP5 is for low-force pneumatic actuation requiring the most sensitive pressure response and precise, accurate, gram-level force control. MP5 Airpel is […]
Servo pneumatics (not an oxymoron) — Comparison to electromechanical options
Updated May 2018 || Pneumatic cylinders and actuators are commonly known as “bang-bang” devices, making quick moves from one end of their stroke to the other, with limited regulation of the force or the move profile. On the other hand, electromechanical actuators with servo controls offer high levels of refinement in positioning, force-torque, and accuracy. Generally speaking, pneumatics are […]
What are the main types of linear actuators?
Updated August 2017 || Linear actuators come in myriad configurations to suit almost any application, environment or industry. They’re primarily categorized by their drive mechanism; then manufacturers use other features such as the type of guide and housing to further differentiate them. Below is an explanation of the most common linear actuator categories. Belt-driven and […]
Linear actuators: Pneumatic or electric?
Updated May 2018 || Electrons or air molecules? That’s not a question you hear very often, but it’s one that engineers and designers wrestle with when developing a new machine or process. That’s because a wide range of linear actuators, especially rod-type versions, are available either electrically driven or pneumatically driven. The choice of which […]
