Thomson creates online industrial linear-actuator sizing and selection tool

Thomson Industries, Inc. now offers a new Linear MOTIONEERING online tool that helps design engineers accurately size and select electric linear actuators. The powerful, self-service functionality of the tool provides an interactive series of questions, making it easier for users to benefit from Thomson’s extensive application engineering knowledge base. The online questionnaire starts with an analysis of motion control requirements, which leads quickly to a suitable actuator solution.

“Given the inherent design of electric linear actuator products, it’s not uncommon for us to see misapplication in cases where a user attempts to select a product without the assistance of an applications engineering team,” said Chad Carlberg, Product Line Manager for Linear Actuators at Thomson.

“Working from a spec sheet alone can get one close to the right match, but unless it is done within the context of a few fundamental application parameters, it is easy to end up with a costly mismatch. Our applications engineers are trained in an interview protocol that optimizes selection and are readily available, but many designers still prefer to go on their own. We respect that desire and have created the Linear MOTIONEERING tool to help them do that.”

The new selection tool guides users through the journey of sizing up an electric linear actuator solution to fit their application. It asks the same kinds of questions about mechanical, electrical and control requirements that a Thomson applications engineer would ask. Then, based on the responses entered, the Linear MOTIONEERING tool returns the options that would best meet their requirements. The following features help bring users to the right selection faster:

• Outcome-driven focus. The new tool guides users in clarifying application parameters up front for optimal selection.
• Broad range of feature options. The tool presents more options for voltage, stroke, control, adaptor location and custom connectors than users might otherwise find from searching on their own.
• Tradeoff management. The tool presents results in a way that makes it easy to parse tradeoffs among the options, revealing, for example, the impact of position feedback on cost or cost parameters on product life.
• Extensive help resources. As users proceed through the questionnaire, readily available help buttons provide additional information, tutorials and videos that help them clarify aspects of the questions. The help button in the environmental conditions section, for example, would lead to a tutorial on understanding ingress protection (IP) ratings.

The new Linear Actuator MOTIONEERING online tool provides information on pricing, lead time and replacement parts.

Once they have selected their product, users can navigate to a page from which they have access to CAD models, documentation, up-front pricing and lead times. In addition to system designers, distributors and equipment end users can easily use the tool to access replacement parts and spares for their equipment.

The Linear MOTIONEERING tool for electric linear actuators is built on a modular architecture that enables it to evolve easily with the Thomson product line. As the company continues to advance its actuator offering with new features such as embedded intelligence and connectivity, customers will be better able to take full advantage of the latest technical advances available to meet their motion requirements.

Use the Linear MOTIONEERING tool for electric linear actuators at linearactuators.linearmotioneering.com.