Electric actuators.

In addition to resistance against environmental hazards such as sunlight UV, they now offer more electronic control options.

Advanced controllability options have been added to Thomson Industries' Electrak® LL line of long-life electric linear actuators. In addition to the 600 km of maintenance-free life and 100% duty cycle performance inherent to all the Electrak LL models, machine designers can now get absolute position feedback, CAN bus integration, reduced current flow and higher speeds.

“OEM designers using our long-life actuators in applications that might otherwise require hydraulic or pneumatic systems can now also get more control over the position, load and speed. Our new configuration options enable them to move actuators into position more smoothly, know instantly where they are and use that data in motion profiles,” said Travis Gilmer, Product Manager – Linear Actuators at Thomson.

Key to the Electrak LL’s long-life architecture is a brushless motor, a high-load ball screw assembly, a brake solution that does not wear, and IP69K (static) and IP66 (dynamic) compliant sealing. This combination enables duty cycles of up to 100 percent, up to 600 km of travel life, and up to one million cycles – more than ten times that of electromechanical actuators without these features. The new configuration options for the Electrak LL augment its industry leading durability with advanced control, integration, higher voltage and higher speed options.

Instead of calculating position from sensors and encoders, users of Electrak LL actuators can get direct absolute position information by programming its embedded microprocessor to count mechanical turns within the gearbox. This enables an instantaneous, exact reading of position for the use of advanced control logic. A design engineer might, for example, use it to synchronize movements of multiple cylinders to defined positions at designated speeds

Another advantage of absolute position feedback is that it will be calibrated during assembly and does not need to be recalibrated. This improves efficiency in applications such as railway and agricultural controls where actuators are usually shut down for extended periods of time when the vehicles are not in use. If the position is not absolute, the actuator will need recalibration on restart. Also, the Electrak LL absolute position measurement does not require mechanical contact, which minimizes wear to the system.

Advanced control sequences need a way to share exchange instructions and data, and Thomson long-life actuators provide this as well. Electrak LL users can build applications around either CANopen® or SAE J1939 communications. This provides maximum flexibility to integrate actuators with other components or productivity and business applications.

High-duty-cycle applications, such as mobile robots, are usually battery powered as low current draw can be an advantage. Electrak LL users can now meet application power requirements by configuring their systems with a 48 V power supply. In comparison to the 24 V version, the 48 V will reduce resistive power losses, which enables thinner, less expensive wiring.

A 2 kN (450 lbs) load option to the Electrak LL has also been added. This optimizes the actuator to handle higher speeds with longer service life. 

Applications.
The new configuration options of the Electrak LL are for those who want both higher duty cycles and maximum control over their applications, such as the following:

• Smart railway pantographs and couplers
• Automated guided vehicles (AGVs)
• Material handling logistics trains
• Automated farming robots
• Movable steps and access lifts for trains and busses
• Gravel bins and hatches

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@Thomson_Ind @bcm_pr #Pauto

Safety system.

The Acti9 Active Safety System, the latest in Schneider Electric's Acti9 range of safety system controls, offers a digitally enhanced connected system with complete visibility at final distribution.

“The Acti9 Active Safety System brings unprecedented visibility and connectivity for electricians, without compromising on safety. The electrical industry is undergoing monumental changes, and this solution helps electricians to navigate the complex changes by providing a ready-made offering compliant to the latest regulations.” says Nico van der Merwe, VP Home & Distribution at Schneider Electric

The next generation of Acti9 Active, which features the hybrid Acti9 Active arc fault distribution board (AFDD), brings an innovative addition to the Acti9 Isobar P range of distribution boards, incorporating efficiency, safety, and best-in-class connectivity compliant with the latest wiring regulations BS7671 18th Edition Amendment 2.

Through alarms and pre-alarms, the Acti9 Active Safety System alerts and protects against electrical faults, providing electricians with the ability to detect a fault and work efficiently and safely to fix it. 

The Active Safety System consists of three elements that simplify what would be a complex connected system:

• Acti9 Active device and Hybrid distribution board – a single 36mm device that acts as an Active all-in-one breaker offering enhanced visibility and greater protection from arc-fault related fires.
• EcoStruxure Panel Server – the gateway allowing the connectivity down to the final circuit in the distribution board.
• EcoStruxure Power Monitoring Expert – the software platform that enables electricians to easily view the information coming from the distribution board at final circuit levels.

Historically, energy meters were used in distribution boards to show an aggregated view of multiple circuits. However, the Acti9 Active Safety System’s total integration of circuit protection, gateway, and software mean that, for the first time, enhanced visibility is available at the final circuit level. This allows electricians to be one step ahead of the electrical system so they can proactively address potential faults and issues before they occur.

Furthermore, the level of information provided by the Acti9 Active improves operational resilience and reduces overall downtime for the electrical system. By having complete visibility of what is happening within the system itself, electricians and building owners have unprecedented control, allowing them to make informed decisions to achieve their energy efficiency goals and make changes to support their sustainability journeys.

@SchneiderUKI @SchneiderElec @teamlewisglobal #Electric #PAuto

Resolving electric versus pneumatic dilemma in linear motion tasks.

Machine builders can resolve the age-old dilemma of whether to deploy electric or pneumatic technology for linear motion tasks by adopting a more application-led approach and deploying hybrid solutions claims Warren Harvard of Festo.

Warren Harvard

He explains: “Many machine builders think they need to make a decision between electric automation and pneumatic drives. Some claim that electric actuation is cheaper, more energy efficient and easier to work with. Others feel pneumatic technology is far more rugged, simpler and has a higher power density. But this ‘one or the other’ approach isn’t always helpful in meeting the needs of the application. It’s clearly better to have an efficient overall system rather than to focus on the efficiency of individual components.”

This principle is driving new advances in linear motion, with product manufacturers seeking to combine the advantages of both pneumatic and electric drives in a single solution. For example, the Simplified Motion Series (SMS) from Festo offers an affordable option that is easy to install and operate. There is no need for external servo drives installed in control cabinets because the whole device is mounted directly on the machine.

Their simplified set-up and operation makes SMS electric drives perfect for simple motions between two mechanical end positions, without having to sacrifice electric drive motion characteristics such as pre-defined speed, gently cushioned movement into end positions and selectable force for pressing or clamping functions. They can be simply and securely combined mechanically with other SMS actuators using more advanced electric axes from Festo, or the vast range of pneumatically-driven guided actuators using standardised interfaces and centring rings for accurate positioning and load transfer.

Festo’s free online sizing tool gives added assurance, not only enabling users to select and size their linear motion solutions quickly and accurately, but also to generate the required documentation and drawings for incorporation in their overall machine design.

Furthermore, these drives are equipped with IO-Link® as standard so they can be integrated seamlessly into fully digitalised environments: supporting predictive maintenance regimes and smart air consumption to make a full contribution to optimising production and energy efficiency. 

In conclusion Warren Harvard says, “Each industrial application has its specific requirements with regards to technical criteria: such as speed, acceleration, load capacity and force required, cycle time, holding duration, power to weight ratio, accuracy, control behaviour, torsional rigidity, efficiency or robustness. Pneumatic and electric drive solutions have traditionally offered specific advantages and disadvantages, but the advent of improved solutions such as the SMS Series mean that machine builders can opt for an alternative, more application-led, approach to finding a solution.”

@festo_global @Publitek #PAuto

Power relays.

Omron Electronic Components Europe has launched PWM controlled versions of three of its most popular power relays offering coil power levels 75-90% lower than comparable standard versions.

Omron G2RL, G5Q and G5NB relays are now available in types supporting pulse width modulation (PWM) of the coil holding current, reducing the duty cycle and hence the average current. This decreases the power consumption and hence the heat developed in the relay, improving efficiency and reducing thermal load especially in applications where banks of relays are employed.

The high capacity 16A G2RL-PW1, a low profile power relay, just 15.7mm in height, features a coil power consumption of just 120mW, compared to 400mW for the standard version. The SPDT G5Q-PW, a miniature power relay with a 10A switching capacity, has a coil power consumption of just 36mW in PWM form, compared to 400mW for the standard version. The G5NB-PW, an efficient single pole, 3A / 5A relay with a 10kV impulse withstand voltage, offers the lowest coil power consumption of just 32mW, compared to an already efficient 200mW for the standard model. All three families are optionally available in IEC/EN 60335-1 conformant versions.

@OmronEurope @NeeshamPR #Power #Electrical