Hydraulic Cylinder Replacement
Hydraulic cylinders provide long life and high force in a small package size. The FTX Series high force electric actuators were designed specifically to allow migration from traditional hydraulic actuation to electric. Based on planetary roller screw technology, the FTX offers life and force density not attainable with more common ball screw based electric actuators. With up to 15X the life and 2X the force density, the roller screw based FTX is the right choice when migrating from hydraulic to electric actuation.
It is possible to assign several operators to several sizes of a valve.
High Speed Electric Actuator Benefits
Rugged and Reliable
Hydraulic cylinders are commonly installed in harsh industrial settings. Therefore all FTX Series models are environmentally sealed to IP65. In addition, its planetary roller screw mechanism withstands significantly higher shock loads than weaker ball screw alternatives. Migrate to electric with confidence knowing the FTX Series is every bit as rugged and reliable as the hydraulics they are designed to replace.
Minimal Maintenance
More and more machine builders are looking to eliminate the mess and downtime associated with hydraulic fluid leaks. Electric actuation not only eliminates the problems associated with fluid leaks, it offers significantly higher levels of performance and flexibility than is possible even with servo-hydraulic solutions. FTX Series roller screw actuators allow machine builders to meet the ever-increasing performance demands of their customers while minimizing or eliminating the maintenance issues associated with traditional hydraulic solutions.
- Significantly longer life
- Less noise and energy consumption
- Better accuracy and repeatability
- Higher force
- Smoother and more efficient motion
Quick Data
|
| Models: |
FTX095, FTX125, FTX160, FTX215 |
| Frame Sizes: |
95 mm (3.74 in), 125 mm (5 in), 160 mm (6.3 in) 215 mm (8.5 in) |
| Screw Leads – mm (in) |
5 (.20), 6 (.25), 10 (.39), 12 (.50), 20 (.79), 30, (1.18) |
| Stroke Lengths: |
150, 300, 600, 900 mm (5.9, 11.8, 23.6, 35.4 in ) |
| Linear Speed: |
up to 1500 mm/sec (59 in/sec) |
| Maximum Force: |
up to 178 kN (40,000 lbf) |
| Standards/Ratings: |
IP65S |
High Speed Electric Actuator Industries & Applications
Successful applications for our FTX Series high force actuators include pressing, forming, and cutting. We have extensive experience in applying the right product and system to solve your most difficult manufacturing challenges. Our representatives can provide guidance to optimize system performance, eliminate premature wear, increase production, improve quality, and ultimately reduce costs. Below are some of the most common applications for the FTX Series.
Automotive
- Lift station
- Automated assembly
- Riveting / fastening / joining
- Pressing
Entertainment / Simulation
- Action simulators
- Ride automation
Machining
- Automated flexible fixturing
- Machine tooling
- Parts clamping
- Precision grinders
- Forming
Material Handling
- Stamping
- Indexing stages
- Product sorting
- Material cutting
- Web guidance
- Wire winding
- Tube bending
Plastics
- Mold locks
- Part ejecting
- Core pulling
- Gate valve
Process Control
- Conveyor diverters/gates
- Precision valve control
- Tension control
Sawmill / Forestry
- Saw positioning
- Fence positioning
Test
FAQS
What current industries are using electric actuators to their benefit?
Several industries are utilizing electric actuators for their systems. For example, they are used in the automotive manufacturing world and robotic end tooling like weld guns, bearing presses, and powering position arms. Food processing equipment uses electric actuators for volumetric filling, cubing, and conveying and indexing product. The oil and gas industries are using electric actuators to replace hydraulic and pneumatic actuators due to their environmental benefits and more flexible and precise control. Both hydraulics and pneumatics have the potential for leakage, creating possible hazardous conditions (i.e., contamination or ignitable gas where methane is commonly used as the pneumatic fluid in the oil field). Electric actuators are increasingly being used to address all these concerns
What are the reasons for choosing electric actuators over hydraulic actuators?
Hydraulic actuators have some advantages in certain cases. They have a high power density, low component acquisition cost, moderate to high stiffness, high speed, and are a commonly used technology with several commercial outlets. However, in certain situations, hydraulic actuators can be less beneficial to a system. They have a moderate accuracy and repeatability without the additional help of extra tuning equipment. They also have intricate and complex installation and maintenance due to hydraulic pumps and tubing. Additionally, they have a high installation cost, low energy efficiency, large environmental impacts, and limited scalability and modularity. These are the cases where electric actuators offer a better solution.
What advancements in electric actuation have improved current processes?
Advances in electromechanical actuation include the pairing of a rotary servo motor coupled with rotary to linear mechanical transmission such as a roller screw. Roller screws have nuts running along a threaded rod that is geared with respect to each other and a nut housing much like a planetary gearbox. They provide more contact points than a ball screw, which means the applied force can be distributed over a larger surface area, resulting in lower stress levels and longer life. Rollers connect the nut with the screw, creating synchronized movement without recirculation allowing for higher rotational and linear speeds in applications where substantial force is required. There is also less vibration and noise at higher speeds due to the absence of recirculating balls. The high load capacity of roller screws allows a smaller, more lightweight package than a ball screw — and to further optimize weight and package size, newer models of electric actuators combine the roller screw and the servo motor into one unit. The integration of the motor creates a smaller package size and reduces the number of components. Direct driving of the roller screw mechanism eliminates backlash due to couplings and drive trains resulting in higher dynamic response and better performance. Along with the pairing of servo motors and roller screws, advances in brushless motors with feedback devices provide higher accuracy and repeatability. Traditional electric actuators typically use single or three-phase induction motors as their driving force. The problem with this design is when the actuator needs to change directions or start and stop, the operation is limited by motor temperature rise and therefore has limited duty cycles. Using a continuous-duty-cycle brushless dc motor along with the paring of roller screws helps solve this limitation. The feedback device allows for very precise control of both the position and speed of the actuator output rod.
Curtiss Wright Actuation supplies high force actuators that are well suited to applications requiring more force to operate effectively.