Piezo actuators operate on the inverse piezoelectric effect: when voltage is applied, the actuator contracts or expands. But when the actuator is blocked from moving (by a load applied in the direction of travel), it generates a force. This relationship between displacement and force in piezo materials is an inverse relationship. In other words, the […]
Actuators
How do rotary voice coil actuators work?
Most linear motion devices have a rotary equivalent, and voice coil actuators are no exception. While the versions depicted in most product images and videos are linear, rotary voice coil actuators fill a need for smooth, arc-shaped motion and torque production with fast response times. But unlike the design relationship between rotary and linear motors, […]
Electric motors: Trends in stepper, battery-powered, and integrated motion designs
Updated November 2019 ⚙️ From induction motors in electric vehicles to tiny coreless dc motors in drug-delivery equipment, electric motors continue to proliferate. Last year we saw consumer products, implantable medical devices, and automation of previously manual tasks spur the most innovation in motor design and use. This year those trends continue — and now […]
SERAPID supplies Meridian Lift for XXIII Olympic Winter games opening ceremony
The SERAPID solution has once again been chosen to provide dynamic stage action for the opening ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. SERAPID had previously provided an extensive stage lift system for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China. The opening ceremony took place in the Pyeongchang Olympic main stadium, […]
SERAPID Group (lift and transfer-system supplier) launches new website
SERAPID Group — a leading supplier of lifts, quick die change, and horizontal transfer systems — has launched its new website at www.serapid.com. “We are proud to provide customers with a new and improved website,” said SERAPID Group Chief Operating Officer Guillaume Davies. “With this new site we aim to create an exciting experience for visitors […]
Video illustrates smart linear actuator benefits for automation applications
Thomson Industries Inc. has released an educational video (below) that summarizes the benefits of smart actuators, which feature integrated electronics. The five-minute video explores how smart electromechanical actuators are meeting demands for greater connectivity, application flexibility and cost efficiency, and illustrates their use in factories, on- and off-highway vehicles, and structural automation. In discussing the […]
Customizable universal electric actuator allows active or passive actuation
Aventics’ new universal electric actuator for industrial applications features a highly flexible design for customization to the customer’s application. The new Aventics best in class universal electric actuator is heavy-duty and suitable for normal or extreme environments. The highly flexible design allows the actuator to be customizable to the customer’s application. A wide range of […]
Electromechanical cylinder is powerful, features hygienic design
With the second generation EMC electromechanical cylinder, Rexroth expands the possibilities for utilizing these compact drive units. With their hygienic design and IP65 protection class, they are now suitable for applications with frequent cleaning cycles in the food industry. The new size EMC100-XC-2 increases the power density for feeding forces of up to 56 kN, […]
Which piezo motor types experience wear?
Piezo elements are used in a variety of configurations to provide rotary or linear motion in applications that require short strokes and fast response times. Piezo elements that are used to produce motion through the inverse piezoelectric effect are known as piezo actuators. These devices provide very small displacements with extremely high resolution. When one […]
AMK Spindasyn SEZ linear drive motor
The new Spindasyn SEZ electric cylinder from AMK Automation is a ready-to-install linear drive motor system in which the rotor is pressed directly onto the screw. Featuring high and constant force, high precision and position accuracy and high energy efficiency, the closed-loop positioning and force control of the SEZ make it an ideal alternative to other […]








