Posted by Tolomatic on October 17, 2017

Test your motion control smarts. Take the electric linear actuator quiz.

Linear actuators are common and critical elements in many industrial machines and automation systems.  With so many choices on the market, it’s important to know how to select the best one for your application.

You probably know a lot about linear actuators.  But do you know everything? Our electric linear actuator quiz will test your engineering smarts.

Posted by Tolomatic on October 3, 2017

Electric rod actuators add accuracy and repeatability to PCB manufacturing

Some manufacturing processes require high precision -- printed circuit boards (PCB) production, for example.  In these instances, the capabilities of each component in a production system are critical. Although machine designers know pneumatic cylinders well, these cylinders struggle to deliver the accuracy and repeatability demanded by high precision processes. Many design engineers now turn to electric rod actuators for accuracy and repeatability and for better operating efficiency.

Posted by Tolomatic on September 19, 2017

10 tips for specifying electric rod actuators: Part 2

In many applications electric rod actuators are a great solution.  Compared to pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, electric linear actuators offer more control over application parameters like position, velocity, and force. They deliver high degrees of accuracy and repeatability and can handle complex motion profiles.  All things considered, an electric rod actuator is often the superior actuation choice.

Posted by Tolomatic on September 12, 2017

10 tips for specifying electric rod actuators: Part 1

There are lots of good reasons for specifying an electric rod actuator. Electric linear actuators offer a high degree of control over application parameters like position, velocity, and force. They deliver high degrees of accuracy and repeatability and can handle complex motion profiles.  All things considered, an electric rod actuator is often a superior actuation choice compared to pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders.

Posted by Tolomatic on September 6, 2017

Supporting STEM education

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (together known as STEM) impart valuable life skills.  STEM subjects teach students how to gather and evaluate evidence, make sense of information, and use new insights and knowledge to find solutions to complex problems.

Posted by Tolomatic on August 22, 2017

How to select electric linear actuators that stand the test of time

The length of time a linear actuator will function (i.e., service life) is critically important to a machine designer. Machines need to keep working reliably with little or no need for lengthy maintenance that will take a machine off-line . So, components like actuators must keep working.

Posted by Tolomatic on August 8, 2017

Electric high force linear actuator is tough enough to process lumber

The lumber industry has relied on the toughness and high force capabilities of hydraulic cylinders for years.  But lately that reliance has been shaken.  Hydraulic cylinders leak and can contaminate the fragile eco-systems in which lumber processing operates.  Plus, hydraulic systems are only 40-55% efficient and cylinders require frequent maintenance.  When combined, these factors can make hydraulic cylinders an expensive choice in the long run.

The introduction of electric high force linear actuators has given the lumber industry a new option for linear motion.

Posted by Tolomatic on July 25, 2017

Total cost of ownership: pneumatic vs electric linear actuators

Who doesn’t like to save money?  We’re all in search of a good deal, but how do you define what’s good?  If you buy something on the cheap but it falls apart in a short time, is that a good deal?  Maybe it’s smarter to pay more for something that last longer and performs better.

In business, this means considering total cost of ownership (TCO), that is, initial acquisition cost plus operating costs. Comparing TCO to purchase price alone is especially interesting when applied to pneumatic and electric linear actuators. 

Posted by Tolomatic on July 11, 2017

Electric cylinders essential to advanced conveyor system [Case Study]

Conveying systems are common in manufacturing. They can be straight-forward systems that take packages from point A to point B or complex ones for sorting and diverting.  Systems used in food processing also must handle washdowns, a common practice in the industry.

As critical components, linear actuators must withstand the challenges of the application including environmental ones.  Pneumatic cylinders have been used extensively in conveying. However, electric cylinder use is growing, fueled by demand for programmability and better accuracy.

Posted by Tolomatic on June 27, 2017

High force linear actuators – hydraulic vs electric [WEBINAR]

When your application calls for a high force linear actuator, you may believe that your only choice is a hydraulic cylinder.  Hydraulics have long been the leading choice for automation equipment needing high force. However, now there are electric high force linear actuators  that offer important advantages over hydraulics in terms of performance and total cost of ownership.  Watch this webinar, and you may want to reconsider the merits of using an electric rod actuator.