Actuator Durability?

Hi,

I am using my motion plaform for about two years with cable winches 24V. You will find my platform solution here:



In general it is working very well without any serious difficulties. Nevertheless, due to mechanical advantages I am just about to change the drives of my platform to linear actuators, like these:

http://www.lineartechnik-aktuator-elekt ... 2-acme.php

Is there anybody using these kind or similar ones for a longer period, lets say more than one years, and could give me a feed back concernig the durability? Even every producer of actuators specify a duty cycle of 10 to 20%.
Using them with our motion platforms means that they are running permanently.

And i have one more question. I nead actuators 24 V 20 A, as quick as possible, maximum Load 1200 N.
I only find actuators specified with max 24 V 10 A. Also most of them are build for heavy loads; unfortunately not for quick movement.

Any help is welcome!

Thanks!

Michael
(German answers are welcome also)

Hi Michael
I would propose to ask the producer/supplier directly. They will certainly be in a good position to answer your question. They are normally very experienced.
The one in the link has a duty cycle of 25% while yours is most probably 100% during the flight. Check with them first.

Hi,

but this is exactly the point. The producer stick to his spec; duty cycle around 20%.
I told him about my motion project, and his answer was, that he couldn´t quarantee for anything.
As the price for these actuators is forth as high as for my cable winches its risky to purchase
them and after some weeks of operation they can´t stand the permanent movement.

The link to the actuators is only a sample.

As theses actuators are more or less working the same way I am interested in a long term
experiance of some one using this kind of motors with comparable electrical values (24 V 10 to 20A).

Thanks
Michael

I was given by chance some old actuators that are ETH Parker Automation . the original motor were stuffed , so I re- motored them with 12 v motors.
I found these actuators very fast , like 150mm per second at 100 mm throw.
Granted I use them for race , but the catalog does show longer throw units.
The downside? Very expensive , they are a fast industrial thing and original equipment is $2500 each. I have been hunting for a Chinese alternative and the best I have come up with is a $650 . But. You have to fit your own motor , feedback.
They will lift 40 kg each with 12 v motors, a bigger motor would move more.
These would suit your task, but the cost is ridiculous.
The winches you show are the most cost effective by far.
Nothing we use for motion sims are really designed for it. So good luck getting warranty on a product.
ETH wouldn't offer me warranty on new actuators once I told them what I was doing with them, even though they handle it just fine.

Hi bsft,

thanks for your response. Parker linear motors are a new producer to me.
They appear to be very professional.
Unfortunately I found no prices.

Transmotec would have also the right ones for me.(24v, 14 A, 2600 N, approx. 50 MM/sec)
But price is something around 900 $ plus shipping and vat.

while checking other web sides I found out that a lot of actuators are produced in china.
But I couldn´t find a chinese web side with prices or a kind of web shop.

Could you post the chinese link you mentioned in your mail. Own feed back is no problem.

Thanks in advance.

Michael

I will send you a PM