Feature

Modular design strategies reinforce electric actuator selection over hydraulics

When electromechanical actuator designers began integrating electronics inside their housings, it gave a control and efficiency advantage that opened the door to applications that had long been the sole domain of hydraulics cylinders.

07/10/2024 12:26:53

Those same electronics, coupled with recent experience of applying electric actuators in new applications, now enable a modular design strategy that makes customising electric actuators easier, further enhancing their advantages over hydraulics.

Modularity comes to motion control
Modular design approaches are common in many other markets. In the lawn and garden market, for example, some string trimmers come with a basic handle, motor and connector, to which the user can attach a leaf blower, edger, rototiller, or the original trimmer.

In the electronics industry, the Apple app platform has spawned the creation of thousands of new productivity and entertainment options. Electric actuator manufacturers are now providing the same kind of interchangeable functionality, giving machine designers even more reasons to convert from hydraulics.

Read the full article in DPA's October 2024 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.