Industrial Automation and Motion Control Blog | The Knotts Company

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Q: Why Electro-Mechanical?

A: IT'S PRECISE, POWERFUL AND CLEAN.

Evolution of Technology

All industries are taking a critical look at the way they use motion control systems in their equipment. Where hydraulics once dominated, equipment is now increasingly utilizing electro-mechanical actuators for a large number of tasks for which they previously would not have been considered. Electro-mechanical actuators provide more precise and reliable motion, and integrate easily with modern PLCs and computers. From a complete system perspective, they are smaller, lighter, and cleaner than their hydraulic counterparts.

Electro-mechanical actuators:

• Increase efficiency, therefore reducing costly energy consumption. For battery-driven electric vehicles, this means increased
• Battery life
• Eliminate hydraulic hoses, valves and pumps
• Have support systems that take up less space, by replacing fluid reservoirs and valve banks with compact electronic drives
• Eliminate the hassle and cost of dealing with spent hydraulic oil
• Remove the functional reliability risk associated with hydraulic fluid contamination
• Eliminate the safety and environmental issues of oil leaks

Installation Savings for the OEM

• Their components cost less than comparable hydraulic component from a full-system perspective
• It is easier and quicker to install than multiple hydraulic components
• System tuning of their systems is quicker and more predictable than configuring hydraulic systems

Maintenance Savings for the End-User

• Fewer overall components to maintain
• No hydraulic fluid replacement
• No leaks to repair
  • Only scheduled bearing lubrication, and periodic inspection of motor/drive cables, as opposed to more complex regular maintenance of hydraulics

Benefits:

Simplified Installation --Mount, connect cables, operate

Reduce System Footprint --Space and weight reductions

Performance and Programmability --Precise, predictable and repeatable motion

Efficiencey --Lower energy consumption

Quieter Operation --No pumps and valves

Safety and Environmental Friendliness --No oil leaks (slip, fire, dermatitis risks); no pressurized hoses

Configurability --Not limited to ram configuration; includes manual overrides

Reliability --Long intervals between maintenance; no fluid contamination

Low Impact Maintenance --Easy to isolate and repair Individual actuators

Interested in an Electro-Mechanical Actuator?