Powerful linear motion
March 2011
Motion Control & Drives
The EMA linear actuator range from PowerJacks has been developed to provide smooth and precise linear motion for low to medium duty applications with loads up to 10kN.
These loads can be moved at speeds up to 90 mm/s as standard, with higher speeds available on request.
The two main segments of the actuator are the actuation and the drive unit. The drive unit is based on a precision Spiroid gear set, a right angled offset drive consisting of a gear and pinion. The pinion is positioned in a different plane to the gear, which allows each shaft to be supported by bearings at both ends. The pinion has a parallel screw form with fewer teeth than the gear and a face type similar to a hypoid-offset spiral bevel. This arrangement offers a greater number of continuously meshing teeth than a worm gear of similar size.
This high contact ratio provides higher strength, smoothness and quiet action in a more compact design. It ensures high quality rotary motion from the drive unit, which is transferred into linear motion by the actuation unit. As standard, the motors available for mounting on the gearbox are 3 or single phase AC, DC options are available on request. In order to maintain the compact envelope of the unit, motors have special drive shaft and face mounts common for all motor sizes irrespective of frame size.
The actuation unit is based on a lead screw assembly that converts the rotary motion into linear movement. As the screw rotates, the nut extends or retracts the ram that is attached to the load. Two types of lead screw are used; a precision cut trapezoidal screw and nut for low duty applications and a high quality ball screw and nut for medium duty applications.
The actuator housing is designed to be compact, light and corrosion resistant. The ram has an aluminium outer tube and plated steel inner tube, while the gearbox has a cast aluminium casing which closely follows the gear set profile to give minimum envelope. Extra corrosion protection can be provided by special paint finishes or materials.
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