Electromechanical actuators convert electricity into mechanical force to move objects or devices. They come in various shapes and sizes and can be used to move doors, operate switches, or move valves. Linear and rotary actuators are the most common types, with linear actuators using electric motors or piezoelectricity to convert motion. Piezoelectric actuators are used for high-precision applications.
An electromechanical actuator is a device that converts electricity into mechanical force in order to perform a certain type of work, most often by physically moving an object or device. They can come in a very wide range of shapes, sizes and designs, but they all work on the same basic principle of converting electricity into motive power. The motive power generated can be used to move large doors, to operate switches for sorting conveyor systems or to move motorized valves. In some cases, an electromechanical actuator may be designed to hold an object or to prevent a particular type of movement.
Any device that directly converts electricity into some kind of movement is an electromechanical actuator. The number of devices covered by this term is extremely large. Several major types cover a very large percentage of these devices, however, and are classified in two ways, by the type of mechanism that converts electricity into motion and by the direction of motion achieved.
One of the most common devices of this type is the linear actuator. A linear actuator moves in a straight line. An electromechanical linear actuator is used to move objects such as louvers on windows, sliding doors, the position of an instrument or other machine, or to move flight control surfaces on aircraft. These are just a few examples and many more are common across all stages of industry and daily life. A rotary actuator moves something in a twisting or turning motion, such as a rotating fan.
Linear actuators can convert electricity into motion in one of two main ways, through an electric motor and through piezoelectricity. Electric motors use an electric current to create a magnetic field, which causes a spindle or wheel to rotate. For linear actuators, this rotary motion is converted to linear motion through the use of gears or a type of assembly called a bolt-and-screw transducer. This essentially consists of two cylinders with matching helical flutes lying parallel and in contact with each other. One is turned by the electric motor, and as it turns, it turns the other cylinder, moving it in a linear fashion.
Piezoelectric actuators use a phenomenon called piezoelectricity, where certain materials generate a weak electric charge when subjected to physical pressure. The forces and charges generated are often very small and these types of actuators are also small. They are used in applications where great accuracy is required.
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