Saturday, December 25, 2010

Robot Linear Actuators

Converting potential energy into mechanical energy is a hot field of study in science. Actuators are the devices that scientists study that convert different forms of energy into mechanical energy or motion. Not only are actuators a hot topic of study in robotics, but they also have benefits in medicine as well. Scientists believe that the more they can improve on actuators, the more it will benefit all of mankind.

The method in which a linear actuator works is that there is a motor that rotates a drive screw using a synchronous timing belt drive. There are some linear actuators can also use a worm gear or direct drive. Whatever the type of linear actuator, the turning of the screw pushes a drive nut along the screw, which then pushes the rod out. Spinning the screw in the opposite direction will retract the rod. The drive screw is either an ACME or ball thread or is belt-driven which is what gives the machine its motion. A cover over the screw protects the screw nut from environmental elements and contamination thereby allowing for the machines use continually without the chance of it getting gummed up. Thrust bearings allow the screw to turn freely under loaded conditions and gives the linear actuator its strength.

Linear actuators usually serve as part of motion control systems. These days most are run by computers. Control systems, a device that you find linear actuators in, move or control objects. This is made possible by the actuators.

Different forms of energy or energy sources can be used to power an actuator. The most common types of energy used are: hydraulic, mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic. Actuators are most commonly found in the robotics and industrial robotics industry.

Whatever type of actuator you use, it will depend on the required motion you seek. By far and away the most popular type of actuator used is for linear or straight line motion. You also have a few options available when purchasing an actuator. You have stroke length which is the amount of linear motion you get per revolution and also the load rating which is how heavy the object that you are going to move can be. Also you should keep in mind the amount of space an actuator will require. You can also buy a programmable actuator which allows you to program various operational efficiencies of your actuators.

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Friday, December 24, 2010

What Is Actuator System?

In lots of cases, we might have been thinking what an actuator really is or maybe we may have heard of many descriptions of what they are really used for. An actuator system in its simplest term is something that’s used to transform energy into motion, it will also be used in other forms such as applying force. I have been researching for the very best description that may be understood by all people and found out that it is basically a mechanical device that takes energy that’s created because of either air, liquid, or electricity and converts this energy into a type of motion. That motion which is generated by the actuator system could be anything from ejecting, clamping or blocking. Actuators are primarily used in industrial or manufacturing applications and they can be use in such things as switches, motors (actuator motor ), and valves (valve actuator).

In my analysis, I found out that there are a number of kinds of actuators and the commonest of them are these which are powered by air. Actuator systems can also be powered by hydraulic or electricity like in the case of rotary actuator and valve actuator. I also found out that there are also electric cylinders such as the air cylinders and hydraulic cylinders with the purpose of converting the hydraulic electricity into motion. Some types of autos use the hydraulic cylinders.

Most of the actuator systems we see today are powered by multiple power source like in the case of the valve actuator. The valve actuator can be powered by both air and electricity. Actuator control systems can create a rotary motion, linear motion or oscillatory motion. That’s actuator systems can create motion only in a single direction either in a circular motion or in the wrong way at some regular intervals. Electric motor actuators differ extensively in their applications and design. We all know of some electric motor actuators that are designed to operate in only two positions both when fully closed or when fully opened whereas other electric motor actuators are placed between the two positions.

We could have seen previously how valve actuators have been ineffective, however presently, electric valve actuators have made progress in the previous couple of years in both their performance and acceptance. The most important improvements that have been made to the electric valve actuators include the level of the resolution, speed and repeatability. In addition, the fail-to-position capability which has been absent with the previous valve actuators is now available and this has been possible because of the advances in the application and reliability technology of capacitors. We may have come across low-power actuator systems that may be run on solar power.

Usually, these actuators which are run by solar power are mostly used for isolating rather than for heavy duties like modulating. For modulating duties, continuous supply of power is required in order to move the actuator motor to the intended set point.

Typically, actuator system is a device capable of converting energy to motion. With the advancement of science and technology, today we can find the application of actuators in almost all the equipments used in our daily life activities.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Elctric Acuator: Engine Control Unit Tuning With the Unichip Q

The current Multiport Fuel Injection System is made up of electrical sensors which detect the particular engine conditions, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) which controls the fuel injection system based on return signals from these electrical feedback sensors, as well as electrical actuators which operate under the control of the actual Powertrain Control Module (PCM).

The ECU (aka the Blackbox) carries out activities such as fuel injection control, idle air control, and spark ignition control.

In addition, the PCM is equipped with a number of diagnostic test settings which simplify trouble shooting when a new OBD2 trouble code develops.

The two most common calibration which a person require to manipulate or adjust is without question the timing as well as feul

Ignition timing control
The ignition igniter module located in the ignition primary circuit pulse ON and OFF to control the actual main current flow to the particular high voltage igntion coil. This method controls the ignition timing to supply the optimal ignition timing with regard to the engine performing conditions. The actual spark ignition is decided on by the ECU (Engine Computer) through engine speed, air intake, engine temperature (ECT), coupled with atmospheric pressure.

fuel injection management
The injector on milliseconds (MS) along with injector timing are controlled so that the the best air/fuel mixture is provided to the engine to correspond to the continually-changing engine operating conditions. A correctly sized fuel injector is positioned at the intake port of each cylinder. Gasoline is delivered using pressure from the gas tank towards the fuel injectors through the fuel pump, with the actual pressure being regulated by means of the fuel pressure regulater at around 55 psi. The controlled fuel is then distributed evenly to each one of the injectors. Sequential fuel injection is normally completed once for each cylinder for every 2 revolutions of the crankshaft. On a four cylindr motor the actual firing order is 1-3-4-2. Each cylinder will have a dedicated gasoline injector. This is known as multiport injection. The ECU provides a richer air/fuel mixture by carrying out “open-loop” control when the engine is cold or operating under high load conditions in order to maintain engine performance.In addition, when the engine is under normal operating temperature after warming-up, the ECM (aka The Blackbox) manages the air/fuel mixture using the heated oxygen sensor signal to execute “closed-loop” management. The closed-loop control defines the Stoichiometric Air-fuel mixture ratio where the catalytic converter can obtain the highest cleaning efficiency.

With the Unichip (Q version) you have complete control over all these parameters in order to make changes to the timing and fuel tables. The Unichip (Q version) has 24 RPM sites between 100 RPM and 24000 RPM and 13 load sites between closed throttle full throttle position. This equates to 312 practical adjustments for each map. In turn the Unichip Computer is going to interpolate in between each speed and load site sixteen times which gives a decent resolution densed map.

UniQ is Unichips most recently released computer software for tuning engine ECU’s. This software program is a revolutionary change from old style DOS software program that had been in operation for more than ten years. Take the Unichip (new version) Tuning software for a test drive and see for youself.

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