LinACE™ in action

Our company established in 1979 as a small family company. Our tradition is tool making, mainly for sheet-metal processing. Part of our business is also industry automation and hydraulics. We are specialized for customized hydraulic presses.

One of our innovative solutions was implementation of the LinACE™ absolute linear shaft encoder into hydraulic cylinders. Two presses were equipped with LinACE™ encoders for testing and currently those sensors operate for several years. There were no errors detected yet.

Pressing plate is driven by main piston (400kN) and two auxiliary cylinders at sides. Auxilary cilinders have piston rod diameter 16mm. Each auxiliary cylinder has integrated LinACE™ absolute linear shaft encoder. LinACE™ enables us to:

• Position measuring of the pressing plate.
• Compact and maintenance free design, also in dirty environment.
• No need for position switches, limit positions are entered programmatically.
• Press can stop in any position.
• Detection of the inclination of the pressing plate (in one direction).
• Detection of the collision.
• Monitoring the pressing plate path as a function of time.

Two small cylinders with LinACE™ absolute linear shaft encoder was used for driving feeder, which delivers powder into hydraulic sinter press. Here was implemented a prototype of servo positioning of hydraulic cylinder.

Two cylinders were designed according to ISO 6020-2, ø12/ø25 * 100mm. End damping was not implemented, but LinACE™ absolute linear shaft encoder was integrated into each cylinder. Length of cylinders is the same as specified by standard.

Cylinders were then connected to position controller. Additional benefits were achieved:

• Accurate positioning.
• Very soft motion for low wear of mechanical components.
• Collision detected, if path following error was larger then specified.