Posted to News on 27th Nov 2012, 13:24
Electric cylinder for use in challenging environments
Festo is launching a new ESBF electric cylinder that delivers exceptional performance with high-load applications in demanding and challenging environments, such as those found in the food and beverage industry. ESBF electric cylinders give high dynamic feed forces, enabling machine builders to improve flexibility and control.
This robust cylinder features a threaded breathing port that improves its environmental protection; the port enables a positive pressure to be applied the cylinder during clean-in-place cycles. Alternative cylinders available on the market are sealed with no breathing port. This means that there is the risk of contamination of dust and airborne moisture inside the cylinder caused by the vacuum effect of the cylinder rod moving in and out, resulting in premature failure.
The electrical ball screw cylinder is available in three sizes - 63, 80 and 100mm - and delivers stroke lengths of up to 1.5m at speeds of up to 1.3m/s. It gives high dynamic feed forces of up to 17,000N and the anti-rotation piston rod provides further protection for additional reliability.
It has a running performance over 10,000km and, thanks to specially designed micro reservoirs for grease, it is lubricated for life with minimal maintenance. It has smooth surfaces, so it does not harbour dirt and is easy to clean, which is essential in food and beverage manufacturing.
Force and positioning
Described as competitively priced, the ESBF cylinder is suitable for push-pull and positioning applications. It can be used in splash zones, has been designed to meet the requirements for use in arduous environments, uses FDA-approved food-grade lubrication, and has a corrosion-resistant class of CRC3.
Sensors can be bonded to the actuator to provide positional feedback. The piston rod is available with a male or female thread as well as a stroke extension and bellows. The bellows kit also comes with a threaded breather port to avoid the suction pump effect.
The motor can be mounted axially or with a parallel kit for applications where space is limited. Both options are classified to IP65 for protection against the ingress of dust and water. Festo offers a full range of servo and stepper motors for the cylinder but it can also utilise third-party motors for added flexibility. The cylinder mountings comply with ISO mounting dimensions so users can use standard accessories.
Nigel Dawson, product manager at Festo, says: "With the ESBF, we can now offer machine builders a complete solution for electrical positioning, including motors, drives and accessories, for challenging high-load applications. We hold 36 combinations in stock with next day delivery, and special variants can be delivered in just seven to ten working days."
For more information on the ESBF electrical cylinder go to www.festo.co.uk/esbf, or for further details of Festo's range of linear drives go to www.festo.com/gb.
