Flexible linear actuator for industrial automation

A highly flexible linear electrical actuator from Festo for industrial automation applications introduces an intelligent servomotor option that provides an all-in-one programmable positioning solution

Festo has launched a series of electrical piston-rod cylinders that provide high accuracy programmable positioning capabilities.

The new DNCE series electrical cylinders are mechanically 100% compatible with the Festo popular DNC pneumatic cylinders, enabling machine designers and builders to implement mixed technology automation systems very easily.

DNCE series electrical cylinders are available in 32, 40 and 63 mm frame sizes and with standard stroke lengths from 100 to 800 mm in 100 mm steps depending on size.

The cylinders offer a choice of low-cost lead screw or high performance ball screw drives, allowing designers to use the optimum positioning technology for their particular application.

The lead screw variants can handle up to 1m/s/s acceleration and offer a repetition accuracy of +/-0.07 mm.

The ball screw variants, which offer a choice of two different spindle pitches with efficiencies of up to 95%, can accommodate up to 6m/s/s and have a very high repetition accuracy of +/-0.02 mm.

Depending upon the cylinder size and spindle, DNCE series cylinders can achieve feed velocities of up to 1000mm/s and feed forces as high as 2000N.

All DNCE series cylinders are housed in a robust extruded aluminium housing and feature a round, non-rotating 'piston rod' output.

The internal drive for the piston rod incorporates a collar magnet - with full length sensor slots on the housing allowing low cost proximity sensors to be fitted at any desired position - so that feedback functions such as 'home' and end-of-travel limits can be implemented and adjusted very quickly and easily.

As standard, the cylinders feature IP40 class protection against the ingress of contaminants, and have an operational temperature range of 0 to 50C.

DNCE series cylinders are suitable for use with a wide range of stepper and servomotors, including third-party products, which can be mounted in-line or in parallel using a toothed belt coupler.

When teamed with the Festo MTR-DCI intelligent servomotors, DNCE cylinders provide a complete, all-in-one programmable positioning system.

These innovative motors incorporate gearing, together with an optical encoder and all necessary controller and power electronics, in a single, compact package, and even offer a built-in LCD option which enables the entire motion control axis to be commissioned at the point of use, if required.

The controller is capable of storing 16 motion control programmes in non-volatile memory - including profiles for constant acceleration and braking - and the drive electronics accommodates variable velocity and positioning.

Customers can easily specify an actuator, mountings and motor / drive combination in a single part number, reducing administration.

Festo also produces a wide range of mounting and rod end coupling accessories for use with DNCE series electrical cylinders, including ball, clevis and rod types.

Having an ISO VDMA format electrical cylinder allows customers to take advantage of the large range of mountings for pneumatic actuators.

This reduces confusion and allows customers to replace pneumatics with electrics in problem applications.

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