The Electromechanical Division of Parker Hannifin has been awarded a certificate by Fraunhofer IPA Institute in Stuttgart, confirming the suitability of its HPLA high performance linear actuators for use in cleanroom applications. Parker’s HPLA80 belt-driven linear actuator underwent extensive testing to measure the emissions from the actuator at 12 different critical points, while a 10kg payload was moved through a series of different motion profiles.
The IPA certificate is accompanied by a statement of suitability and a detailed measurements report that can be used as a guide on how best to integrate the HPLA80 into a clean-room environment as it identifies the critical parts of the unit and the level of emissions at each. These areas can then be examined carefully in the application, enabling them to be shielded or fitted with a suction device if required. In addition, the measurement report establishes a strong dependency between the particle emission rate and the rate of acceleration and travel speed, to further assist system builders and end users maximise the use of the linear actuators.
The HPLA80 with the stainless steel fixings and bearings option and is now supplied as a standard ready for use in cleanroom systems. Furthermore, a range of integrated solutions are available to enhance the performance of the HPLA range of actuators still further, including the Parker’s Compax3 servo controllers, programmed in the manufacturer-independent CoDeSys development environment using the intuitive IEC61131-3 language.