Product category:
Actuators, motion systems, etc
News Release from: Tolomatic | Subject: Ully-integrated linear actuator sensor
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 20 May 2005
Integrated linear actuator has feedback
option
With an absolute position feedback actuator option, the first, fully-integrated, linear actuator sensor eliminates stops for manual set-up routines.
Tol-O-Matic has announced its new Absolute Position Feedback (APF) technology, the first fully-integrated linear actuator sensor that eliminates the need for homing routines APF-equipped Tol-O-Matic actuators provide analog feedback to the controller or PLC to determine actual load position
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 21 Feb 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Pneumatic cylinders feature a patented SS band, rigid extruded aluminum tube and internal air cushioning and the load is supported through the entire stroke, minimising seal wear.
Work point variances can also be accommodated throughout the cycle, eliminating stoppage for manual set-ups.
Systems with APF provide position feedback as soon as power is applied, allowing immediate resumption from shutdowns, resets and power losses.
The APF option is currently available for Tol-O-Matic BC3 pneumatic and B3S electric series actuators, and unlike fixed length sensors, can be ordered in incremental stroke lengths from 2 to 156in.
"APF is fully integrated within the actuator body, eliminating the need for complex mounting and also reducing the chance of damage to the transducer," said Michael Dornfeld, Tol-O-Matic Project Engineer.
"The technology utilises a non-contact, linear displacement transducer that offers high life expectancy, high speed, high linearity and repeatability compared to conventional linear potentiometers." Dornfeld added that because the APF magnetostrictive transducer measures position directly, effects of screw/nut backlash can be eliminated from position feedback information.
In pneumatic applications using BC3-series actuators, APF can eliminate the need for hard-wired event triggers, and events can be easily programmed to a PLC without having to manually add or adjust switches.
An analog signal of 0 to +10V DC or -10 to +10 V DC can be selected (based on control device) to make full use of the controller's analog to digital conversion capabilities.
Tol-O-Matic's APF technology opens the door to greater productivity in a number of applications that demand load position location at operation start-up, or high performance/high volume production, including valve positioning, winding, measurement, stacking, inspection machinery, X-Y positioning set-up, load sensing and assembly machinery.
Tol-O-Matic, a certified ISO 9001:2000 manufacturer, has been designing and manufacturing high quality motion control products for over 50 years.
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