Where Are Linear Actuators Used?

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The concept of a linear actuator is a simple one. A linear actuator develops motion in a straight line. This automation technology allows for a great deal of reliability, speed, and efficiency. Linear actuators can come in electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic varieties, although electric adaptations are becoming increasingly common.

The reason behind this shift is because electric linear actuators provide flexible mountings, energy efficiency, high levels of control, and great cost efficiency. However, pneumatic actuators provide a great deal of safety in hazardous environments. Each actuator is not without their benefits, and identifying the right one is important.

Beyond knowing the benefits of actuators at large, it is helpful to know in what applications linear actuators can be useful in. This blog post is dedicated to discussing the different applications and industries where a linear actuator can be found.

The Industries and Applications That Commonly Use Linear Actuation

Linear motion has revolutionized manufacturing production by making applications by far more efficient. In lowering cost while increasing production capacity through linear motion, manufacturing facilities have saved money while improving product quality.

This is such the case for material handling applications. With the ability to stop part-way through motion, electric linear actuation has provided more flexibility and safety for various material handling applications. Compatibility with sensors and other automation technology has allowed linear actuators to perform repetitive tasks such as pick and place, as well as, packaging.

Robotic technology in part owes its origination to linear actuation. Actuation creates motion in wheels, clamps, and the appendages of the robot itself. Part of the reason behind this actuation choice is due to the dependability and controlled movements that linear motion provides.

Without linear motion, the effectiveness of robotic technology wouldn’t be realized. The applications robotic technology provides with the help of linear motion is nearly endless, but here are just a few:

1. Pick and Place
2. Injection Molding
3. Packaging & Palletizing
4. Quality Inspection
5. Assembly
6. Polishing
7. Machine Tending
8. Screw Driving
9. Lab Analysis & Testing
10. Gluing, Dispensing, and Welding

It isn’t an unknown fact that today’s food and beverage production lines must provide a high output. This means creating efficient systems that lower cost while increasing production capacity. From food production to beverage packaging, all industrial systems must be aligned and flexible to meet demand. Linear actuation is a large piece of that puzzle.

From station cleaning to conveyors, linear actuation can create motion for food and beverage applications. Rod-style linear actuators, for example, are widely used for washdown applications. During food processing applications, it is important to maintain a clean and safe environment so as not to contaminate the product. Electric linear actuators are especially up for this task due to their low risk of contamination. Yet, another example of linear actuation within the food and beverage industry includes their use in blast chillers and meat separators.

Window and door production is a difficult job—anyone who has worked in such a facility knows that products can be heavy and cumbersome to move. Linear actuation can provide aid in manufacturing applications that provide ergonomic strain to employees. In these facilities, linear actuators provide much of the same automation support that they would in other material handling applications. However, linear actuators help in other processes beyond manufacturing applications. These actuators also provide motion in mechanisms found within windows and doors that allow them to open.

Automotive

Electric linear actuators are flexible actuators and are ideal for many automotive applications. As such, these actuators have become a mainstay within the industry. Within the automotive industry, linear actuators are used in various systems within cars to open doors, trunks, roofs, and more. Linear actuators are generally used for any automotive applications requiring parts to be lifted or shifted.

Farmers have pressure to produce as many products as possible while also having time constraints due to seasonal changes. As such, automation like that produced through linear motion helps those in the agricultural industry to work smarter.

Many farmers would be surprised to know that their sprayers and other equipment utilize linear actuators. Throughout the entire farming process, from cleaning to harvesting, linear actuators are placed in systems to provide motion and increase production efficiency.

With the topic of energy on the top of everyone’s minds, linear actuation is paving the way for alternative energy sources. Both hydraulic actuators and electric actuators can be used within solar panels to move with the sun, therefore capturing the most sunlight possible. Linear actuators are also used to turn the blades of turbines to harness energy from wind.

With their ability to withstand extreme climates, pneumatic actuators are adept at functioning in environments that solar panels and turbines are often found in.

Contact Us for Your Linear Actuator Needs

Identifying the right linear actuator for your application can be difficult. Whether you need an electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic actuator, finding the right fit and specs will be an important task for increasing efficiency within your system. If you require help finding the right linear actuator for your application, contact our automation specialists by phone or email. They can help you select the right technology for your needs.

Selecting a Linear actuator

As we have seen already, actuators have myriad applications in different fields. But this doesn’t mean that all actuators are made equal. When purchasing an actuator, you should be able to know which suits your requirements best. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to choose the right actuator for your needs.

Step 1. Assess the movement required:

Does the object you need to move in your project require linear or rotary movement? Linear actuators are useful in exerting a mechanical force that would move an object in a straight line while rotary actuators, as the name suggests, generate circular motion.

Step 2: Consider the energy input:

Electrical actuators are becoming more and more popular due to their increasing sophistication and flexibility in handling various kinds of operations. But that doesn’t mean it's suited for every work out there. Consider hydraulic or pneumatic actuators if your work does not include electrical voltage input.

Step 3: Assess the precision level required:

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Some actuators are ideal for heavy-duty work in rough environments, but they may not work well when it comes to handling smaller work like packaging which requires precision and the ability to repeat the same action hundreds or thousands of times.

Step 4 : Find out how much force you need:

The purpose of an actuator is to move or lift an object. Find out, in your case, how much this object weighs. The load capacity of an actuator decides how much it can lift, and although many actuators may look similar, their load capacity will vary. Before you buy an actuator, make sure the weight of your object matches the capacity of the actuator.

Step 5: Find out how far you need the object moved:

Distance, or stroke length as it is technically known, matters here. The stroke length decides how far your object can be moved. Manufacturers often sell actuators of varying stroke length.

Step 6: How fast do you want the movement to be:

The speed of the actuator is often an important factor for most people, depending on their project. Usually, projects that require actuators to exert high force would move slower than those that generate low force. Speed of an actuator is measured in distance per second.

Step 7: Consider the operating environment:

Does the actuator need to work in a rugged or rough environment, where dust or humidity is a concern? If this is the case, you would want to choose a product with higher protection rating.

Step 8: Decide on the mounting style:

Actuators in the market come in different mounting styles and understanding their benefits is necessary before buying an actuator. For instance, a dual-pivot mounting method in a linear electric actuator allows the device to pivot on both sides while extending and retracting. With this, the application gets to have two free pivot points while moving on a fixed path.

Conversely, stationary mounting, which secures the actuator to an object along the shaft, is useful for actions such as pushing a button. At this stage, you should be able to narrow down your options to a significantly smaller pool from where you started. From here, you will need to narrow down further. For instance, linear actuators come in different styles for different kinds of functions. Rod-style, for instance, is the most common and simple among them, with a shaft that expands and retracts. Track style, which does not change its overall length or size during operations are more suited when space constraints are an issue. There are also column lifts and other actuators that would be ideal for setting up TV and table lifts. Factors such as operating voltage and motor type may also be worth considering.

Choose the Actuator

Capabilities of a Linear Actuator

Performance metrics are quantifiable outputs that help you evaluate the quality of a particular product. Actuators can be considered under several performance metrics. Traditionally, most common among them have been torque, speed, and durability. These days, energy efficiency is also considered equally important. Other factors that may be considered include volume, mass, operating conditions, etc.

Torque or force

Naturally, torque is one of the most important aspects to consider in the performance of an actuator. A key factor here is to note that there are two kinds of torque metric to consider, static and dynamic load. Static load torque or force refers to the actuator’s capacity when it is at rest. The dynamic metric refers to the device’s torque capacity when it is in motion.

Speed

Speed of an actuator differs depending on the weight of the load it is supposed to carry. Usually, the higher the weight, the lower the speed. Hence the speed metric should first be looked at when the actuator is not carrying any load.

Durability

The type of actuator and the manufacturer’s design decides the durability of an actuator. Although those such as hydraulic actuators are considered more durable and rugged compared to electric actuators, the detail specs on the quality of the material used will be up to the manufacturer.

Energy efficiency

With increasing concerns on energy conservation and its direct impact on operational costs, energy efficiency is becoming more and more a decisive metric in all kinds of machinery. Here the lesser the quantity of energy required for an actuator to achieve its goal, the better.

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