SMAC have introduced their new LPL30 low-profile electric actuator – ideal for dosing and dispensing applications:

• Designed for speed, consistency and repeatability required for dosing/dispensing

• Has a peak cycle rate of 2,400 cycles per minute, three times faster than air cylinders

• Cost-competitive and lasts more than 100 million cycles

Repeatability is required for dosing and dispensing – the process of distributing small quantities of a substance such as medication, perfume, food additives or flavouring – to insure a proper and consistent amount of material is dispensed.

The actuator’s 10mm stroke, 30mm pitch and its compact size fits most dosing and dispensing machines. The stroke is programmable and can be adjusted to compensate for valve seat location variation.

The LPL30 is Ingress Protection (IP) 76 and 69 rated. If an IP rating is not needed, the size of the unit shrinks to 25 mm pitch.

Designed to replace air cylinders, solenoids, solenoid valves, piezo valves and ball screw actuators traditionally used to open and close dosing valves – use a DC linear servo motor and offer programmable speed, force up to 70 newton and micron-level positioning. The LPL30 can move accurately even down to 1-micron steps.

In addition, it is engineered for very low friction for fast and consistent response times and force that remains steady throughout the stroke.

Air cylinders used for dosing and dispensing have a large variation in response time for the cylinder to move out and back, resulting in inconsistent volume of material being dispensed. For example, if the application is a dose of 0.20 ml, an air cylinder may have a response variation of plus or minus 10-15 milliseconds, which can result in the dosing volume varying by 0.02 ml. SMAC’s LPL30 has a response time variation of plus or minus 1 millisecond, and a dose volume variation of 0.002 ml.

LPL30 actuators have cycle rates up to 2,400 cycles per minute – three times faster than air cylinders – for increased output. And like many SMAC actuators, the LPL30 features SMAC’s patented “soft-land” capability to gently locate a surface and then perform its function and provide real-time feedback for tracking, performance and quality control.

The LPL30 is cost competitive with the devices it replaces. SMAC keeps costs down without compromising durability or performance. Programmable control eliminates harsh stops and starts that cause premature wear and failure, ensuring the actuator will last more than 100 million cycles, 10 times longer than pneumatic devices. The LPL30 actuators are manufactured with square steel tubing with high-strength neodymium magnets on all four sides for greater force than conventional linear motor designs. SMAC also uses precision shafts, bushings and antirotation dowel pins, rather than more expensive recirculating ball linear guides, which reduces moving mass and increases acceleration.

If you’d like any further information, please just get in touch with us!