Electric Actuator vs Pneumatic Actuator

Many types of machinery need to position components and/or move loads in a linear fashion, and machine designers routinely face the question of whether to use an electric linear actuator or a Pneumatic Actuator to fulfill this requirement.

A Critical Question Facing Today’s Machine Designers

Many types of machinery need to position components and/or move loads in a linear fashion, and machine designers routinely face the question of whether to use an electric linear actuator or a pneumatic actuator to fulfill this requirement.

Choosing the right actuator for the job is critical in today’s competitive global environment because selecting the wrong option can often translate into the loss of tens of thousands of dollars each year.  Yet the choice is often not obvious nor is it easy to make.  Both electric linear actuators and pneumatic actuators provide precise positioning and control, and both have proven track records in machine applications. Both technologies also have their own advantages and disadvantages.

In order to make the right decision on whether to use an electric actuator or a pneumatic actuator, you need to thoroughly evaluate the performance, component cost, system cost, and productivity requirements of your specific linear motion control application, as well as gain an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of actuator.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Electric Actuators

In evaluating the use of electric linear actuators, which are known to provide higher levels of precision, you must first assess the degree of precision required by your linear motion control system.  Electric actuators generally consist of a ball screw, an Acme lead screw, a roller screw, which are driven by an electric motor, such as stepper motors and servomotors.  As the screw turns, it moves a piston that is connected to the rod or carriage, which moves the load.  The advantages and disadvantages of electric actuators include:

• A wide range of control options for the specific motion profile

• Better adaptability for machines that involve flexible processes and low operational costs

• Greater economy in moderate scale deployments that leverage their performance advantages

• Reduced replacement costs, particularly in applications in which the electronics are separate from the actuator

• More flexible drive options, such as using a more economical stepper motor for accurate positioning at lower speeds, or a more costly servomotor for superior performance at high speeds

• Greater accuracy through the use of high-precision screws and

   

  anti-backlash mechanisms, which can provide accuracies to ten-thousandths of an inch.

• Predictable operating energy costs largely related to motor power draw

• High component costs

• Low operational costs