TYPES OF ACTUATORS AND ITS APPLICATIONS

                             ACTUATORS

Actuators are mechanical or electro-mechanical device that provides controlled and limited movements or positioning which are operated by the help of some fluids such as air, hydraulic, either electrically or manually actuators are usually components of a machine that is responsible for moving and controlling mechanism or system, an actuator needs a source of energy and a control signal the control signals are usually low energy and maybe electric voltage or current hydraulic pressure or pneumatic, or even human power, main energy source will be electric current, hydraulic pressure an actuator will respond to a control signal by converting the signal energy to mechanical motion. Two basic motions are linear and rotary. Linear actuators convert energy into straight line motions mainly for positioning application and usually have a push and pull function some linear actuators are manually operated by use of a rotating knob or hand wheel. Rotary actuators convert energy to provide rotary motion. A typical use is control of various valves push and power actions are provided by linear chain actuators.

ACTUATOR TYPES:

Electric linear

These actuators are electrically powered mechanical devices consisting of motors, drive mechanisms, and linear guides, which are used to convert electrical energy into linear displacement through mechanical transmission, electro-mechanism or thermal expansion to provide straight line push/pull motion. Specifications include drive type, motor type, mounting configuration. Electric linear actuators are used primarily in automation applications when a machine component, tool, requires a controlled movement to a particular position. The actuators are driven by several means including ball or lead screws belts or voice coils, among others typical application includes opening and closing dampers locking doors etc. image

Electric rotary

Rotary Actuators are electrically powered mechanical devices with limited rotary travel consists of motors and output shaft mechanisms. key specifications include drive method, number of positions, output configuration. They are used in automation application when a gate valve, etc Requires controlled movement to particular rotational positions. They are used in a wide range of industries where positioning is needed actuators are driven by various motor types, voice coils, a typical application includes quarter-turn valves, windows, robotics

FLUID POWER ROTARY

These actuators are fluid powered mechanical devices consisting of a cylinder and piston mechanisms, gearing and output shafts giving limited rotational travel which are used to convert gas or air pressure into rotational motion fluid power rotary actuators are used in automation applications when an item requires a controlled rotary movement to a particular position. Operations of this actuators are opening and closing dampers and doors…

LINEAR CHAIN ACTUATORS

These actuators are mechanical devices consists of sprockets and sections of a chain which are used for linear motion linear chain actuators are used in motion control applications for providing straight line push or pull motion

FAIL-SAFE ACTUATOR It is used for larger valves for high torque requirements a unique built-in air reservoir giving fail-safe action without the torque loss image

This design prevents closure creeping when air supply pressure drops torque output is constant in powered stroke with only a small drop off on the fail stroke the available torques are proportional to the air supply pressure spring changes for various air pressure need not be made

APPLICATIONS:

Machine tools
• Loading & unloading of parts • Tool exchange operation • The positioning of the machining tools • Measuring operations • Operations of the doors, hatches, and other safety features

Factory automation • Automated & robotic welding • Injection Moulding • Servo presses • Packaging machines • Robotic joining & clinching • Measuring, supervision, & assembly

Materials handling • Forklifts & mobile lifting aids • Car chassis transportation • Food container palletizing • Assembly line engine handling • Aircraft wing handling