LINAK calculator takes the guesswork out of actuator lifetime prediction

LINAK is launching a B10 lifetime calculator, providing their customers with a valuable glimpse into the future when it comes to actuator service life. Predicting the lifespan of integrated actuators can be challenging, as different applications and conditions place varying demands on components. However, because the B10 life is based on a combination of real-life testing data and specific user needs, it is possible to confidently estimate the lifetime of a LINAK actuator in any specific application: vital knowledge, both when developing a new application as well as for planning maintenance.

“The B10 lifetime calculator will be a great help for end users with actuators located in places that are hard to access as knowing the service life of the equipment can prevent downtime of the whole application,” says Soren Buck, Business Development Manager at LINAK.

True testing takes time
To achieve a true and realistic life-cycle prediction, a substantial amount of test cycle data is required, and LINAK has devoted considerable test centre capacity and time to reach the required data levels. Soren Buck and his team began B10-testing with the LA36 actuator, where groups of actuators were tested in different setups.

“We ran all the actuators to the breaking point. When they were all ‘dead’, we used performance data for each of the actuators to calculate the B10 lifetime curves,” he explains. “If you know the LA36, you know how durable it is… It took quite a long time to wear them down,” he adds.

From speculation to reality
Even though B10 lifetime is based on statistics, the results of the estimations are highly qualified, and the life expectancy of an actuator can be confidently estimated: B10 tells us that minimum 90% of the actuators specified for an application will meet or exceed their predicted lifetime when used in accordance with product specification, whereas a maximum of 10% might fail. Knowing the service life of an actuator is relevant and adds value to all fields of application as everyone can benefit from knowing what to expect from their actuator.

First online tool for predicting actuator lifetime
The B10 lifetime calculator is now available on the LINAK website for the LA36 actuator, where customers simply enter their load and stroke specifications to receive an instant prediction of the chosen actuator’s lifetime. The lifetime calculation can be made with both fixed and varying loads.

LINAK is a market leader in the production and application of electric linear actuators with some 40 years of experience and more than 30 subsidiaries worldwide.

For more information, visit this deep link at linak-us.com.