Don’t make the mistake of buying a robot when a simple actuator will do. Robots have become the “go-to” tool for industrial automation, yet they’re often expensive overkill. For many automation tasks, a linear actuator or two is a much smarter choice.
A Single Motion Axis
Most modern robots have five or six axes of motion, each rotating from a joint. That means, these machines naturally move in arcs, but often you just want something to move in a straight line. That is difficult for a robot: several rotational movements must be coordinated to produce a linear translation.
An actuator produces motion in a single direction, usually with a single motor, and in many situations that is all that is needed. Adding two more actuators and synchronizing their motion allows complex 3-D paths to be followed, all for less than the cost of a robot.
Linear actuators have multiple options to choose from, so it is important to ask the right questions when deciding.
Start with the Task
Consider the following questions:
• How many axes? Diverting a box from a conveyor takes a single axis. Lifting individual packs off a conveyor, translating and lowering into a carton is two. It’s often possible to reduce even complex motions down to two or three axes. Just adjust relative heights, provide a chute, or let a box pivot to change orientation.
• How far to move? Six feet and you need a conveyor. Six inches, and an actuator will do the job. It’s all about the length of stroke.
• How fast? Consider speed and the need for control over acceleration and deceleration. Aggressive movements can break fragile parts or cause them to move out of position.
• How much mass has to be moved? A gallon of engine oil takes more force to push off a conveyor than a pack of baking soda.
• Reconfigurability? Inexpensive actuators move to the end of their stroke or a hard stop. Others are programmable for speed and position, making them easily reconfigured.
Select an Actuator Type
With the above parameters established, it’s time to choose an actuator.The three main types are:
• Hydraulic — capable of very high forces and long strokes, but are not programmable. They need a big power pack and piping, and are prone to leaking.
• Pneumatic — widely used in automation because they’re cheap, but air needs piping in and is expensive.
• Electric — compact, programmable, easy to run in wiring, capable of high speed, force, precision and controlled acceleration and deceleration. Energy is only consumed when moving.
In automation, hydraulic actuators are increasingly giving way to electric actuators, because of their superior compactness.
Electric actuation is becoming increasingly common in home, medical, ergonomic, and industrial spaces.
Other types of actuators include: linear motors, voice coils and piezo-electric actuators.
Examples of Electric Actuator Applications
Changes of position or direction, like the conveyor-diverter example, are easily accomplished with a single actuator. Other examples are: opening a door to allow product to be dispensed, and raising a cover. With control over the stroke, a single actuator can perform positioning. An example would be moving the head of a labeling machine for different carton sizes.
Many robotic-type tasks can be accomplished with a gantry. Three axes let a gantry cover a large volume. This kind of structure is ideal for machine loading and unloading, packaging and if shrunk, 3-D printing.
Electric linear actuators are now being developed to compete with hydraulic actuators for industrial.
A selection of other actuator applications would include: passing a screen print “squeegee” across a silk screen, moving a laser height sensor over a box for height measurement, or feeding sheet metal into a press or forming machine.
Cheaper than a Robot
Actuators provide movement, making them an essential automation tool. Actuators come in an almost limitless variety of shapes, sizes and capabilities. Some are pneumatically or hydraulically powered, but electric power offers the greatest flexibility and has the advantage of being programmable. For complex motions, consider synchronizing electric actuators and reap the benefit of robotics at a lower cost
Samantha Rosenfeld acts as the Senior Marketing Associate for TiMOTION’s North American office.
