U.S. Headquarters, 3011 North Franklin Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46226
SMC Products Overview: Actuators
SMC actuators
offer the most innovative designs in the industry. Specified in all major
industrial markets, they are created to provide
you with the largest array of choices. From Semi Conductors to Automotive,
Packaging to Medical, Food to Heavy Vehicles SMC is the first choice of
engineers around the world. Our standard features include a wide range
of 16 inch and 18 metric bore sizes, multiple mounting configurations
and auto switch capability as a standard on most series, we have designed
and built actuators for high precision performance, and exceptional reliability.
Our global production facilities make product availability simple in all
industrialized counties around the world. SMC actuators are available
in a wide variety of styles, including linear, guided, rotary, gripper,
specialty, and for use with pneumatic, hydraulic and electric, each series
comes with a full complement of standard options.
Basic linear air cylinders are used to provide straight-line, in/out linear movement for a variety of applications. Basic air cylinders are available as single-acting and double-acting with single or double rod and non-rotating models.
Body styles include crimped, round, or tie rod. Single-acting cylinders develop thrust in one direction and have lower air consumption compared with the equivalent size of double-acting cylinders. With a double-acting cylinder, air pressure may be alternately applied to provide force in both directions.
A compact air cylinder functions
in the same manner as a basic air cylinder with both single and double acting,
single or double rod, and non-rotating models. However, SMC compact cylinders
minimize space requirements by allowing for precise, direct mounting in
the least amount of space possible.
Rodless air cylinders differ from basic air cylinders in that no piston rod extends outside the cylinder body. Instead, the internal piston is connected to an external carriage, by means of a magnetic or mechanical coupling system.
SMC rodless air cylinders are ideal for long stroke applications because they are unaffected by rod overhang, bending, piston binding, and uneven seal wear, and for use in confined areas where space is a premium.
Guided cylinders utilize guide
rods mounted parallel to the piston rod to provide stable, non-rotating,
high side load performance. SMC offers dual rod, slide table, heavy duty
and precision models. Like rodless cylinders, SMC guide rod cylinders
reduce rod bending, piston bending and uneven seal wear. Low profile models
are available for restrictive space limitations.
SMC manufactures two of the
most common types of rotary actuators: Rack and Pinion and Vane style.
In addition, we offer Combination models combining compact cylinders and
rotational capability and rotary gripper combinations. When the application
calls for rotational motion less than one revolution, rotary actuators
can mount right at the equipment joint without taking up space with long
stroke lengths, which would be required to do the same job with a linear
cylinder. SMC's rotary actuators can achieve arc lengths of 90°, 180°,
190°, or even 270°, depending on the configuration.
SMC offers one of the most
extensive lines of pneumatic grippers in the industry today. The series
include rotary driven, two, three and four finger parallel styles that
are ideal for gripping and centering; a wide opening parallel model, designed
to accommodate many different sized parts; a heavy duty style, suitable
for a wide range of applications; an angular model, speed adjustment built
in; a toggle to give reliable gripping support; a low-contamination style,
equipped with a protective boot; and electric models.
When your application requires
that a task be performed that can not be completed with standard actuators,
SMC can help you find the solution. SMC offers a variety of specialty
actuators including Sine (smooth acceleration), Load Stopping, and Clamp
to name a few. For example, the transportation of delicate items often
requires greater control of cylinder speed, acceleration and deceleration
than is afforded by traditional pneumatic cylinders. For this reason,
SMC has developed a RE series of sine cylinders. These cylinders facilitate
high-speed transportation of work but have very smooth actuation (similar
to sine wave). For your demanding application look into SMC's specialty
actuators for a standard solution, or contact our engineering department
where we can customize an actuator for you.
SMC hydraulic cylinders offer
a wide choice of operating pressures, tube bore sizes, and standardized
strokes. Available in lightweight, compact aluminum body. Direct mounting
style provides space savings.
SMC also offers a large selection
of accessory products, to further compliment our abundant line of cylinders
and actuators. To attach actuators we offer rod clevises, mounting brackets
and alignment couplers, feedback is provided by the largest selection
of auto switches available from any cylinder manufacturer. To control
speed we offer shock absorbers, quick exhausts and flow controls in a
wide variety of sizes and configurations.
