Product category:
Machine Building Components
News Release from: Montech | Subject: Rotary actuators
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 26 July 2000
All-round benefits of rotary actuators
As the rigidity and size of rotary actuators has increased, they have become more popular for applications where the load- and moment-carrying capacity needs to be more substantial
Rotary actuators are no longer being used just for lightweight end-of-arm applications in automation projects True, they still have a very important role to play as, for example, a wrist joint between an arm and a gripper but, as the rigidity and size of rotary units has increased, they have become more popular for applications where the load- and moment-carrying capacity needs to be more substantial; it is now common to use only a rotary actuator to support an entire manipulator arm
Montech manufactures a variety of rotary actuators that are applicable to a wide range of such automation tasks.
The advantage of using rotary actuators is that they can be far more compact than individually designed solutions, and there are significant benefits in terms of a shorter design time, less risk, and reduced fabrication costs.
However, customers today are looking for much more than a simple actuator; they also want a full range of options and accessories.
Speed controllers and hydraulic dampers are fitted to all of Montech's rotary actuators as standard, and the company also supplies inductive proximity sensors, adjustable intermediate stops, and many mounting options for use with or without the Quick-Set aluminium framework system.
Another demand from customers is for reliability.
Again, Montech scores here because its rotary actuators are designed for a maintenance-free life of over 10 million cycles and the units come with a 2-year warranty.
A well-built actuator will provide other benefits as well, such as higher accuracy.
Montech's smaller models, with a piston diameter of 20mm, have a repeatability of 0.01deg or less, whilst even the top-of-the-range units with 60mm pistons can achieve a repeatability of 0.02deg.
This results from the use of precision machining, high quality bearings, and a rack-and-pinion drive with a nested rack that totally eliminates backlash.
All models feature a maximum rotation of 185deg to ensure that adequate movement is always available, and adjusters can be used to set the end stops anywhere from 0 to 185deg.
The option of one or two pneumatically-operated intermediate stops allows additional stops in the range 0 to 92.5deg.
Another option that many of Montech's customers find exceptionally useful is the integral air supply to other components, such as grippers, that are mounted on the rotary actuator.
This avoids having pneumatic pipes that flex with each actuation.
To complete the neat installation, customers can avoid having flexing sensor leads on the gripper (which cause even more problems than air lines) by using 'pushbutton' sensing devices.
These are mounted out of the way on the rotary actuator and sense the air pressure, giving an electrical output signal when the auxiliary component reaches its end stops.
Comprehensive literature is available that contains technical details of the rotary actuators as well as including application examples and calculation tables.
In addition, CAD drawings and costings can be found on the Automation 2000 CD-Rom.
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