| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
SMAC prides itself upon its technical expertise and customer spport. Listed below are a few commonly aked questions, but if you have any specific application that you would like to discuss please feel free to speak to any of our applications engineers on the CONTACTS page.
| Q: What extra software do I need to run and program my controller? |
| A: None. All controllers can be programmed with nothing more sophisticated than a 486PC and an RS232 cable. Programming is done with a simple form of machine code using 2 letter mnemonics in a text editor such as note pad and then "cut and pasted" into Hyperterminal. |
| Q: What kind of power supply do I need? |
| A: All actuators run on either 24v or 48v DC and our coils draw no more than 3 Amps. Check with your distributor to discuss which voltage is best suited to your application. |
| Q: How many points along the stroke length can it move to? |
| A: Infinite. The actuator can be taught to move or home to any position or number of positions along the stroke length. |
| Q: Can I change speed mid-stroke? |
| A: Yes, not only is it possible to change velocity mid-stroke, you can also move instantaneously between the three operating modes......Position, Velocity & Force. |
| Q: What is the maximum force I can exert and how fast can it move? |
| A: We insist that our actuators operate within a 40% duty cycle. This is dealt with in depth on the TECHNICAL INFORMATION PAGE Speed is naturally dependant upon the actuator in question, but speeds are typically in excess of 1m/s |
| Q: What is a "soft land"? |
| A: The soft land is a routine which allows the actuator rod or gripper jaw to land on the surface of a component with a low programmable force. This is particularly useful wherever delicate or high value components are being handled. The routine consists of a controlled low force approach in velocity mode, while the position error is constantly monitored. Once contact is made the position error builds up until a pre-programmed figure is reached resulting in the rod maintaining position on the surface of the component. |