A compact LAH04-10-000A linear voice-coil actuator (VCA) from BEI Kimco Magnetics uses moving-magnet operation to deliver sort but powerful stroke lengths. With this new model, the line includes actuators from 0.375 to 2.4-in. (outside diameter) in myriad stroke lengths, peak force, and custom features.
The 0.375-in.diameter actuators deliver force to 0.5 lb … and with a total weight of 0.37 oz, they produce more than 20 times their own weight (in terms of force) with an operating stroke of 0.157 in. The tiny size and housed packaging make the actuators easy to mount in size-critical applications. The actuators offer all the benefits of voice-coil technology — direct-drive and hysteresis-free operation for highly accurate motion, plus high acceleration, absence of commutation, and excellent resolution.
The moving-magnet design also offers excellent heat dissipation. By allowing the magnet to move and keeping the coil fixed, any heat generated by the coil assembly conducts away. No moving wires and a high heat dissipation makes it suitable for high duty-cycle applications, including those on pick-and-place machines, remotely controlled switching, medical and laboratory equipment, and military and aerospace designs.
According to Jim McNamara, BEI Kimco Senior Application Engineer, this is the smallest-diameter VCA on the market, and his company is offering the new actuator because housed actuators (compared to unhoused actuators) are increasingly in demand.
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