Pneumatic Solution Savings

Jan. 1, 2000

Send us your comments, suggestions or solutions to this problem.

Our reader asks: We've always used servomotors to translate rotary motion to linear motion via slides, ball screws and other mechanical components. A necessary upgrade for better reliability and versatility is at hand, and contrary to a lot of market conversation, a more direct pneumatic solution looks promising because of its integration with electronics, manifolds and other controls. Most our our customers have compressed air systems.

But there are equally promising integrated linear motor packages that might save space, and be an almost plug-and-play upgrade that our customers might accept.

So far, there doesn't look like there's a big cost differential in either case. We’ll get an upgrade either way, but is there a prevailing opinion about best bang for the buck here?

Send us your comments, suggestions or solutions to this problem. We'll include it in the January '14 issue and post it on ControlDesign.com. Send visuals if you'd like — a sketch is fine. E-mail us at [email protected]. Please include your company, location and title in the response.

Have a problem you'd like to pose to the readers? Send it along, too.