48V heavy-duty actuator

Thomson Industries Inc., a brand of U.S.-based Altra Industrial Motion and a manufacturer of linear motion control solutions, has announced the availability of a 48V option for its Electrak HD electric actuator. The added voltage capacity designed into this actuator provides motion control designers with new flexibility in integrating heavy-duty actuators with onboard electronic systems that draw less current.

“Greater controllability is one of the main reasons that motion control system designers have been replacing hydraulic systems with heavy duty electric actuators and adding 48-volt capacity to our Electrak HD family adds even more control,” said Travis Gilmer, product line specialist of linear actuators at Thomson. “Designers can now more efficiently integrate equipment that draws less current.”

The Electrak HD linear actuator platform provides lifting performance up to 16kN and has onboard electronics, which eliminates the need for standalone controls. The 48V Electrak HD has all the robustness and performance capability of the standard line but can reduce current draw through the wires by half when compared to 24VDC and 4x less current compared to 12VDC. This enables designers to configure applications that can provide maximum power while drawing minimal current. It also reduces space demands for everything in the system, including wiring and transistors.

In a typical configuration, instead of deploying one 48V battery, the designer might string two 24V batteries, or a 24V and two 12V batteries in series. With the new Electrak HD option, they have up to 48V capacity if needed and can also integrate accessories that might need only low-level power switching.

The 48V Electrak HD is designed to perform heavy-duty applications and will benefit automation capabilities in automated guided vehicles (AGVs), forklifts, factory automation, and any application with lifting requirements of up to 16kN and a need to integrate other electronic equipment that requires low current.