New video overview from SMC highlighting their broad electric actuator offering.

New Whitepaper: Introduction to accuracy and repeatability in linear motion systems

How accurate is an actuator?

The answer to this question is more than a number. Accuracy and repeatability are two important specifications of a linear motion platform. Though they are related, accuracy and repeatability in linear motion systems are not the same thing. The motor, drive and actuator itself all influence these specifications. Sometimes, repeatability is more important than overall accuracy. The relative importance of the two depends on a thorough understanding of your application.

To learn how accuracy and repeatability affect a rodless actuator platform, download the Tolomatic white paper.

Minimizing Electrical Noise in Actuator Drive Systems

Electrical noise is common in industrial environments.  Erratic movements, random system faults, and communications loss, are just a few of the symptoms.  Proper system design and wiring can minimize electrical noise to the point where it doesn't interfere with system reliability.  For more information check out Tolomatic's Whitepaper:

Minimizing electrical noise in actuator drive systems for maximum reliability and performance 

          Introduction:

Electric drives and actuators often need to operate in harsh factory conditions that subject the equipment to dust, moisture, heat and vibration. This same environment will also include electrical noise that can disrupt actuator control signals and cause erratic movements or precipitate complete system failure. By understanding electrical noise, system designers can take steps to minimize this interference and ensure higher reliability and maximum performance from electrical drives and actuators. This paper will discuss the
cause of electrical noise and its effects on communication loss, while also providing tips on how to minimize noise and maximize electric drive system performance.

Click here to continue reading the whitepaper 

IP Ratings and the Manufacturing Environment

Gary Rosengren - Director of Engineering at Tolomatic has posted an excellent white paper that discusses environmental conditions and how IP ratings may be applied when rod-type and rodless linear actuators are used in these environments.

Click below for the full whitepaper:

IP ratings and the manufacturing environment: How to apply linear actuators for quality, safety and long service life.   (pdf)

New hygienic designed electric cylinders are IP69K, stainless steel and USDA approved.

Tolomatic has just released two new sizes of ERD electric cylinders that are hygienically designed, IP69K rated with a USDA Accepted Equipment Certification for meat (livestock), poultry, and dairy food processing applications.

The new hygienic stainless steel design of ERD electric cylinders offer:

• Thrust capacities to 4500 lbf [20,017 N]
• Increased strokes to 39.4 inches [1000 mm]
• Increased speed capacities to 57.5 inches [1460.5 mm]
• Choice of ball, or roller screws 
• Lowest cost stainless steel actuator– with IP69K as standard equipment available out of the catalog with fast delivery 

With the expanded force range the ERD can handle the most demanding jobs such as pressing, cutting, chopping and can replace most pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders with excellent efficiency and operating flexibility.

Get all the details.  Download the ERD brochure, and contact us for an onsite demonstration.

If you are attending the Process Expo at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL you can see the ERD in action at Booth #1316

SMC's New LAT3 Miniature Linear Motor Actuator

SMC's new LAT3 series card motors are miniaturized electric actuators incorporating a linear motor, linear guide and a displacement sensor. These units are designed for the following applications:

• Small working envelope - 9 mm thick, 60 - 90 mm long, 50 mm wide 
• Low pushing force  - maximum pushing force of 6 N
• High accuracy - repeatability ± 5µm
• Measurement - ± 10µm pushing measurement accuracy (with an example load mass of 100 g, and stroke of 5mm)
• High Duty Cycle - Up to 500 cycles per minute.

The unit is very easy to program.  Enter the position, move time, and the load mass and the controller will automatically calculate the speed, acceleration, and deceleration necessary to make the move.

For additional information see the PDF catalog at this link:  SMC LAT3 PDF Catalog

If you need application assistance or would like a demonstration of the unit please contact Scott Equipment.

New SMC Electric Rotary Table

SMC has released a new electric rotary table series LER. The LER is a nice compliment to SMC's rapidly expanding line of electric linear actuators and grippers. Series LER achieves a low profile and space saving design by building the motor into the housing.

• Built-in motor
• High torque - Special low backlash (30x) worm gear
• Shock-less/high speed actuation (Max speed: 420 degrees/sec)
• Positioning Repeatability:  +/-0.05 degrees
• Up to 320 degrees rotation
• Possible to set speed, acceleration/deceleration, and position for up to 64 points
• Manual override screw on both sides to adjust the table position when the power is off.
• Automatic energy saving mode - 40% power reduction after the table has stopped
• Hollow shaft to pass through cables to attached components

Like all the new electric actuators from SMC the control and programming is familiar and easy because it utilizes the same LE series controller, software and optional teach pendent.

When fully configured the LER series is priced competitively.  A fully configured LER10 series including actuator, motor, cables, drive/controller is around $1,130.  The largest size LER50 fully configured with high precision bearings, motor, cables, drive/controller is around $1,800.

For more information:

Link to Catalog:  SMC LER Catalog
Contact Scott Equipment:  http://www.scotteq.com

New Bimba Electric Actuators - (OLE) Original Line Electric

Electric actuators from Bimba have been been available as customs for several years now. With the press release from Bob Kral (Bimba OLE Product Manager) yesterday, Bimba has officially released their standard rod-type electric actuators.  From the press release:

Issued by: Bob Kral kralr@bimba.com, Product Manager - April 15, 2010 

Original Line Electric (OLE) rod type actuators, Bimba’s first standard rod-type electric actuators, are designed to provide the longest life, greatest durability, highest speed, and greatest thrust per dollar. Their modular design enables them to be purchased as a complete actuator, motor, and control solution, or as an actuator by itself ready to accept the user’s preference of motor, stepper or servo. Prices start at $299.

Model availability - Most models and options are available now, including the reverse parallel mount. Exceptions are the reverse parallel with rear clevis or pivot, which will be available May 15, and the NE option (no motor with coupler for a 12mm shaft) which will be available May 1. Delivery of standard models is 4 days (for orders of 5 units or fewer).

Models and options - OLE models are available in 1.5, 2, and 3 inch diameters, in strokes up to 18 inches, thrusts up to 350 pounds, and speeds up to 24 inches per second. Standard options include trunion, block front, clevis, pivot, and foot mounts, step motors, drivers, and encoders, brakes, washdown ratings, female rod threads, and switches and switch tracks. 

The warranty on the OLE is a 1-year warranty covering workmanship and materials, expandable to 2-years free of charge with registration.  Additionally, in case you missed it we would like to draw attention to the starting price of $299.  This is the lowest entry price we have seen for an "industrial" electric actuator.  Leave it to Bimba, who revolutionized air cylinders with the non-repairable crimped body cylinder, to revolutionize industrial electric actuators in 2010.

At Scott Equipment we are excited about Bimba's release and we have a demo case arriving in early May.  If you would like additional information or to schedule a demo contact our OLE product manager Dave Lange (dlange@scotteq.com).

Links to Additional Information:

Bimba OLE Catalog (with Pricing)

Bimba OLE Manual
Bimba OLE Video Overview (Flash)
Bimba OLE 3-D Models
To Order - Contact Scott Equipment or call us at 1-800-222-2903

Integrated Control Drive Motor - New from Tolomatic - ICM Plus

Tolomatic has released the new ICM Plus all-in-one integrated control, drive, and motor.  This solution combines the power of a servo motor with an integrated digital drive and control.  The ICM Plus has the following capabilities:

• Indexer programming
• Infinite positioning
• Stand-alone operation
• Mid-stroke positioning with sensors
• Stepper mode (pulse/direction)
• Analog position mode
• 100% duty cycle for continuous operation
• 24 Vdc opto-isolated I/O, NPN, or PNP
• 8 Inputs
• 2 Outputs
• IP65 Option - For protection against water and dust ingress

The ICM Plus can be used on almost all Tolomatic electric actuators.

Flexible Operation

The ICM Plus has 4 flexible operation modes:

• Stand-alone mode: PLCs or switches /sensors can send commands to the actuator via digital I / O to invoke indexer program for motion or other logic events.
• Communication mode: PLC or PC sends position commands or register changes over RS-232.
• Stepper mode: PLC or motion controller sends pulse / direction commands to actuator initiating motion.
• Analog position mode: PLC or motion controller sends 0 - 10 VDC analog signal to actuator which equates into an actual position (contact factory for Analog Torque Mode).

Powerful Software - Intuitive Interface

Additional information on the ICM Plus Integrated Control Motor system is available on Tolomatic's Website at tolomatic.com.

If you have an application, would like a demonstration, or would like to receive more information please contact Scott Equipment.

New SMC LEY Series - Rod Style Electric Actuator

SMC has released a new rod style electric actuator, the LEY series.  Built into a compact package the new LEY series has the following features:

• Max stroke 500 mm (19.68")
• Speed control
• Position control (Max. 64 points)
• 2 Motor types
• Stepper Motor
• Servo Motor
• Optional drop prevention via a non-energizing operation type lock mechanism.
• Rod Scraper
• 3 Sizes with a maximum pushing force (LEY32 with 4mm Lead) 707N or 159 lbs.
• Max Speed 500 mm (19.68" / s)

The LEY series is typically sold as a set with a LEC controller.  The LEC controller is programmable and features 11 inputs and 13 outputs with up to 64 stored positions.  Additionally, the LEC controller has RS485 (Modbus protocol compliant) serial communication.

For the features series LEY is has a very good market price.  Complete systems including actuator, controller, and cables range from $1,300 - $2,000 depending on the options selected.  A teach pendent is available as an option but was not included in the pricing estimates above.

More information on SMC series LEY can be found in the  LEY Series Catalog

If you have application questions or need pricing and delivery please call (1-800-222-2903) or contact Scott Equipment online.

Reverse-Parallel "Your Motor Here"

Tolomatic has announced an expansion to the "Your Motor Here" program to include reverse-parallel housing on the RSA24 and RSA32.  The Tolomatic "Your Motor Here" makes mounting your motors to our actuators easy.  

Find a match that works for you and Tolomatic will supply a motor mount...FREE...when you order an actuator. What's more, they will build and ship the actuator and motor mount to you in 5 days or less! (Limited to motors and actuators displayed on the Your Motor Here website.)


For more information:
"Your Motor Here" Tolomatic MXB Belt Drives
"Your Motor Here" Tolomatic MXE Screw Drives

New Video - Tolomatic ICR SmartActuators

Tolomatic has placed a new six minute video on youtube.  The video is an execellent overview of the Tolomatic electric SmartActuator.   



For more information on Tolomatic [click here]

To see a demo of the new smartactuator in person [contact us]

Integrated Motor Actuator from Tolomatic

The IMA is a compact, durable, high force rod-style actuator. The IMA integrates a servo motor with a proven mechanical design to provide efficient high force in a compact lightweight design envelope. Our patent-pending design allows for easy re-lubrication without disassembly for extremely long service life. Tolomatic has over 50 years of experience manufacturing rodless and rod-style electric and pneumatic actuators. The IMA combines this experience and the power of servo motor technology into one actuator. The result: reliable, affordable power in a compact package.

PDF Catalog

Tolomatic SmartActuator

The SmartActuator from Tolomatic is a controller, drive and servo motor integrated into one compact, durable, electric linear actuator. The result: reliable, affordable power that is remarkably easy-to-use.
The ICR rod-style electric SmartActuator Series comes in two motion control packages:
The ICR Basic for simple extend and retract operation and the ICR Plus with indexer programming and network communication capabilities.
Both ICR Basic and Plus electric screw SmartActuators offer:

• 100% duty cycle for continuous operation
• 24 Vdc opto-isolated inputs, NPN or PNP
• Two ball screw selections
• IP65 option for protection against water and dust ingress

All SmartActuators are built-to-order and shipped in 5 days or less.
Additional information is available here.