Festo cylinders employ linear-motor technology
A
Festo product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Sep 18, 2009
Festo has launched two series of high-performance electric cylinders employing the company's tubular linear-motor technology.
Both series feature similar dimensions and mechanical interfaces as their pneumatic counterparts, making them true drop-in, electrically-driven alternatives.
The cylinders offer fully programmable, closed-loop position, acceleration and speed control, and are ideal for applications that demand extremely fast and accurate positioning capabilities.
The heavily patented linear motors are based on a tubular design, using high-flux annular magnets on the actuator rod, closely surrounded by a series of specialised windings on a long stator coil.
Festo's design offers a number of significant advantages, including low moving mass and a complete absence of flexible cabling to the moving parts.
The cylinders have no external magnetic field and are suitable for environments subject to swarf, such as in machine-tool applications.
Festo's DNCE-LAS electric cylinders have the same form factors as the company's DNC series of piston-rod pneumatic cylinders.
There is a choice of three 32mm profile models with stroke lengths of 100, 200 and 320mm, and four 40mm profile models with stroke lengths of 100, 200, 320 and 400mm.
The cylinders offer a variety of acceleration, speed and thrust ratings - the largest model can accelerate at up to 90m/s2, handle a velocity of 3m/s, and is capable of producing a thrust force of 202N peak and 55N continuous.
All seven models provide high positioning repeatability to within +/-0.02mm.
Pressurised air-cooling and pneumatic-clamping unit options are available.
DNCE-LAS electric cylinders are suitable for applications involving loads up to 1kg that do not exert twisting forces on the actuator, such as small parts unloading, sorting and packaging machines.
For applications that demand a higher load capacity and resistance to twisting forces, Festo has launched the DFME-LAS series guided electric cylinders.
These employ the same tubular linear motor as the DNCE-LAS series, but are equipped with two ball-race-guide assemblies to provide extra rigidity.
There is a choice of seven different models, spanning stroke lengths from 100 to 400mm.
The most powerful DFME-LAS series guide electric cylinder can accommodate twisting moments in excess of 6Nm, has a payload capacity of 6kg, and can accelerate at up to 54m/s2.
All Festo DNCE-LAS and DFME-LAS electric cylinders are intended for closed-loop control - they feature a built-in magnetic encoder to provide feedback to the motor controller.
Festo has launched a motor controller - known as the SFC-LAC - to partner its electric cylinders, supplied as a complete ready-to-run unit which incorporates a power-output stage and all necessary control interfaces, as well as an optional HMI.
It features a built-in digital I/O interface as standard with Canopen, Devicenet and Profibus interfaces available as options.
The controller is very easy to commission: all set-up parameters - including complete move profiles defining velocity, acceleration and deceleration - can be developed offline on a PC, using Festo's Windows-based FCT software, and then downloaded to the controller.
As many as 31 move profiles can be stored on the controller and linked together so that entire motion control sequences can be executed independently of the host PLC.
Additional move profiles can also be specified via fieldbus whenever required.
Festo's DNCE-LAS and DFME-LAS electric cylinders have the same form factors and mechanical interfaces as their pneumatic counterparts, making it easy for system designers to mix and match different drive technologies to create task-optimised automation.
The company produces a wide range of accessories, including cylinder rod ends, foot mounts and clamping brackets.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Contact Festo
Tel +44 1252 775000
Other Festo stories
-
Festo cushioning offered on DSNU actuator
Festo has developed a self-adjusting pneumatic cushioning system, available as a build-to-order option for the company's DSNU series round-cylinder pneumatic actuators. -
Festo unveils linear motor based actuators
Festo has developed a class of electric actuators based on very high-performance linear motors. -
Festo solutions aid Guernsey water treatment plant
Guernsey Water has adopted various valve solutions recommended by Festo at one of the island's water treatment plants to improve the supply of drinking water to about 24,000 households and businesses. -
Festo valve for pneumatically-operated automation
Festo has launched the MS6-SV electrically-operated pneumatic soft-start and exhaust valve that provides safer start-up and reliable venting of compressed air supplies in the event of an emergency. -
Festo unveils control solutions for water industry
Festo has launched a series of products, including modular controllers, real-time communications modules, sensors and actuators.
Browse by category
-
Capital Equipment (3,488)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (531)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,123)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (474)
- Production line blowers and fans (73)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (963)
- Consultancy and Services (917)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,105)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (813)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (188)
- Control and Instrumentation (2)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (296)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (203)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,197)
- Plantwide control (1,347)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (573)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (390)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,421)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (2)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,289)
- Industrial Motors (501)
- Linear Drives and Motors (119)
- Precision Motors and Gears (425)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,083)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,276)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (575)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (709)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (647)
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (3)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (374)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (719)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (428)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (821)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,319)
- 2D CAD software (202)
- 3D CAD software (1,177)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (576)
- Data, document management software (320)
- Electrical design software (165)
- Engineering Design Software (17)
- FEA and structural analysis software (376)
- File conversion software, data capture (358)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (338)
- Materials design and moulding design software (152)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (324)
- PLM and collaboration software (658)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (269)
- Publishing and documentation software (234)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (206)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (947)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,198)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Conferences (435)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (849)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (575)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (365)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (636)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Seminars (414)
- Engineering Training Courses (456)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (180)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (284)
- Health and Safety Legislation (403)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (115)
- Machine Building (4,608)
-
Materials and Processing (3,020)
- Materials and components (2,258)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials processing and testing (291)
- Rapid Prototyping (466)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,620)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (485)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (505)
- Data loggers (425)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (641)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (757)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (448)
- Materials testing equipment (429)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (158)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (518)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,253)
-
Powertrain Design (3,691)
- Bearings (973)
- Chains and belts (333)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,469)
- Hydraulic Components (473)
- Lubricants (439)
- Powertrain Design (3)
-
Sensors (7,237)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (446)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (637)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (289)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (157)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (534)
- Linear Position Sensors (412)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (724)
- Pressure sensors (634)
- Proximity Sensors (710)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (559)
- Sensors (10)
- Temperature sensors (620)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,402)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (2,021)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,708)
