Industry News | By Duff-Norton | Oct 11, 2019
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Electric actuators are reliable, consistent and robust linear motion devices. When it comes to pitching a new electric actuator to your boss, you will need to navigate around the inevitable barrier of red tape and bottom lines.
Here are four benefits of electric actuators that’ll turn some heads and help you get that all-important green light.
Safety is a primary concern in any process environment. Management doesn’t want injuries on their hands, so when it comes to pitching a new investment in electric actuators, safety is a major benefit.
Compared to their mechanical counterparts, electrical actuators decrease the risk to workers considerably. They don’t require fluid to ensure smooth motion, which reduces the danger of leaks and slippages. They also use acme screw units to hold a load in place, so even in the event of a power outage, you can be sure the actuator won’t slip from its position.
Electric actuators require a motor and some sort of control panel to operate them. In more sophisticated environments, you can program any desired specification and offer a consistent, stable movement, time and time again.
As a result, electric actuators can reduce failure rates and increase productivity. And, should an actuator be reassigned for a different type of movement, they can easily be re-programmed straight from the control system itself.
If your boss is trying to keep costs down, electric actuators are the way to go. While the initial investment might be higher, you’ll receive a long-term payoff of less plumbing, less maintenance and lower cost of replacement.
Because they don’t require external pumps, they’re also considerably smaller and quieter to work with, meaning they can be deployed in tighter, more enclosed spaces.
Pneumatic and hydraulic actuators use air and fluid to generate movement, while electric actuators use a motor. In colder environments where air is prone to freezing – or in environments without access to air – electric actuators are the safer, more steadfast choice. All you need is a reliable power source.
‘In the past, it was difficult to gauge how an individual device was functioning or why it was failing because data was limited or maybe not available at all. Now, if an actuator is compatible with Ethernet, it may be able to have its own IP address, so data could be viewed on a web page.’
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- Rich Mintz, Marketing Manager at Siemens
The goal of any modern process environment is to be as efficient (and, therefore, productive) as possible. Electrical actuators are built on this principle.
Previously, data about multiple actuators would be fed to a control system. This made it difficult to see the productivity of singular components. Today, however, if an actuator can connect itself to the Ethernet, you could see the performance of a specific actuator and find ways to improve its efficiency.
By using electric actuators – given their ability to be programmed and integrated into a control system – you can begin to build an efficient, connected and productive process environment that is Industry 4.0 ready.
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Choosing between electric actuators and other varieties can be difficult. Each type of motion has its own advantages and disadvantages. Even more, one type of actuation is seldom a replacement for another. Generally, applications will greatly benefit from one type of actuation over all the others.
To make this choice a bit easier for you, this blog post will evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using electric actuators especially in terms of safety and energy savings.
Electric actuators provide extremely accurate control and positioning. In addition, this type of actuator helps adapt machines to flexible processes and has a low operating cost. This means that an electric system isPneumatic cylinders energy efficient and can provide you with cost savings in many cases.
Electric actuation is the most efficient option when it comes to applications where multiple points of positioning are required. This is due to the fact that pneumatic cylinders need to be coupled with many accessories to perform these same types of motion. This leads to a higher cost and less accuracy and efficiency in the long run.
Another way in which electric varieties beat pneumatic or hydraulic actuators is in their ability to start and stop almost immediately on command. There is no delay and lag.
Pneumatic cylinders require that your compressor runs constantly to maintain pressure. Electric actuators, on the other hand, only need to run when work is required. This means saved electric costs for your business.
Electric actuation tends to be your best choice when your application requires speed, accuracy, flexibility, and control. Below are a few more key advantages of electric actuators.
It seems like electric actuation has many benefits. However, there have to be some disadvantages, right? Turns out that there are.
One prominent disadvantage can be a higher initial equipment cost. Below, we listed a few more disadvantages for your knowledge.
Electric actuation has many advantages over hydraulic and pneumatic actuators. However, electric actuators have their own disadvantages. For help determining the right actuator for your application needs and requirements, we recommend contacting a specialist for help.
Are you interested in learning more about advantages of a pneumatic system? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!