The third annual Soft Robotics Design and Research Competitions rated projects that exhibited novel and innovative approaches to soft robotics components and research. Winners of the contest have just been announced. The competition is sponsored by the Soft Robotics Toolkit, a team that grew out of research at Harvard University and Trinity College Dublin and […]
Pneumatic design 101: Go with the flow
The benefits of pneumatic power can be realized by following some basic pneumatic design rules for specifying air preparation units, actuators and valves. Contributed by Chip McDaniel, Educational Specialist at AutomationDirect Compressed air use by industrial machines is a close second to the use of electricity in terms of cost, and well ahead of other […]
Soft pneumatic actuator generates cyclical motion
A new study has demonstrated the advantages and potential applications of an innovative multi-chambered soft pneumatic actuator. Researchers described how the actuator generates cyclical motion and characterized its trajectory and force output in an article published in Soft Robotics. Coauthors Alar Ainla, Mohit Verma, Dian Yang, and George Whitesides of Harvard University detailed the actuator’s […]
Safe pneumatic system design
Consider the following safety and design choices for control of pneumatic systems in automated equipment. By Pat Phillips • Product Manager, Fluid Power & Mechanical Products at AutomationDirect A safe pneumatic system design starts at the connection to a machine’s air preparation hardware and continues to correctly pairing valves with cylinders. This article reviews the […]
Air actuators isolate disruptive vibrations
Even in harsh conditions involving a lot of dust and permanent vibrations, air actuators from ContiTech continue to work reliably, especially in construction machinery. “With these properties, they offer added value compared with steel spring bearings or hydraulic cylinders, as disruptive vibrations are largely minimized,” said Douglas Duesing, sales manager of industry and off-highway air […]
Polyactuator packs large force in small package
Firestone Industrial Products, based in Indianapolis, has expanded its line of Airomatic polyactuators to include a new 120 mm option. It’s the largest pneumatic polyactuator on the market, according to the company. The line also includes 50 mm and 70 mm versions. Airomatic polyactuators are constructed of two polyurethane sections welded together to form a […]
How are pneumatic actuators used in automation applications?
Pneumatic actuators come in an array of permutations for automation. Rod and rodless actuators are the two most common, though rodless are far more common in the U.S. Rodless actuators include bearings to address moment loads in X. Y, and Z. Tip: Avoid undersized pneumatic actuators for applications by accurately calculating application force; subtracting piston-rod […]
Can fluid power play a role in wearable exoskeletons?
Popular movies have long imagined robotic assist type machinery, from the Power Loader exoskeleton that Ripley wore in Aliens to the military weaponry showcased in Starship Troopers and Avatar—not to mention basically the entire premise of the Iron Man movies. But, as so often happens, the real world is catching up to the imaginations of […]
Right-sized pneumatic cylinders ensure performance and efficiency
Here are some basic tips on specifying pneumatic cylinders that economically generate the requisite forces and speeds. By: Nathan Irvine – AVENTICS Corp Rightfully, pneumatics is considered extremely simple, flexible and economical. Add to that, air-powered systems are quite durable—they routinely run for years trouble-free with little maintenance. That’s why they’re used in countless applications ranging […]
The new generation of PRIME MOVER pneumatic actuators
The new generation of PRIME MOVER actuators has significantly improved performance: The PRIME MOVER offers axial motion with no rotational forces involved. The actuator uses all metal construction (no elastomers), so it can be used in temperature extremes, cryogenic to 450°F. Additionally, the all-metal construction makes it compatible with the harshest chemicals, plasma, and fluids. […]
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