A Common Customer Concern, Controlling the Actuator when the Web Breaks
In this video, we address a common customer concern about actuators in the event of a web break, focusing on the safety features of the SCU6x Controller. We cover how the actuator will not drive to a mechanical limit due to electronic limits, preventing burnout. Additionally, we discuss the advanced digital system of our stepper motor-based actuators, which includes electronic stroke limits, limit switch options using NPN proximity sensors, and the lock on lost edge feature. These features enhance safety and longevity of the actuators, ensuring reliable performance.
00:00 Introduction to Actuator Safety Concerns
00:39 Electronic Limits and Safety Features
01:28 Limit Switches and Proximity Sensors
02:03 Hardware Implementation of Limit Switches
02:50 Comprehensive Safety Options
03:09 Conclusion and Benefits
Transcript
Show full transcript (510 words)
One of the common questions that we get asked from our customers is about our actuator in the sense that if the web breaks will the actuator keep driving to one direction or not. We saw that feature before where if we enable that lock on lost edge when the web breaks the actuator doesn't move and stays put. Now in the scenario where you don't have that enabled will that drive the actuator to its mechanical limit? The answer is no.
We have electronic limits set on the actuator. That means that even if there is no web, the actuator is only going to go to its electronic limit and it's not going to go any further than that and it's going to stop there. So there is no issue with the actuator burning out or anything like that and hitting the mechanical limit. These are artifacts of older web guides which does not have that intelligence.
Ours is all digital stepper motorbased system and we have a lot of options where we are able to have complete control over the actuator position and we can set those electronic limits to avoid the actuator hitting any mechanical limits. For those customers who want a little bit more safety conscious thing where they want to have limit switches, we do have that option. So this controller SC SU6X controller allows you to connect two limit switches apart from the servo center proximity sensor. And these limit switches, even though we call it switches, they're not mechanical switches.
These could be any NPN proximity sensors that just looks at a flag that's going to tell what the limit is. So you have a left limit switch and a right limit switch. When we have that enabled, if the actuator is going in the left direction and hits the left limit switch, it will not move anymore. This limit switch would be a proximity sensor.
As soon as that flag is seen by the proximity sensor, in that left direction, it will not move. It will still move in the right direction, but not in the left direction. This is an hardware implementation. So there's no software involved in this.
Even if our system has some things that we have set up, it'll be an hardware limit there. Likewise, you have a right limit switch, which is an NPN proximity sensor. When the actuator moves and brings a flag in front of the right limit switch, the actuator will stop automatically. So, it's more like a belt and suspender and suspender approach.
So, you have three different options. One is the actual stroke limit on the actuator electronically and then you have these limit switches and obviously you have the lock on lost edge. All of these things is going to allow you to be able to have a longer life for the actuator and this is again with the advances that we have with our controller. We have a lot of flexibility in controlling the actuator and increase its life.