The shift from hydraulic to electromechanical technologies has picked up over the past 10 years as people look to employ clean energy solutions, said Eric Falasco, Product Manager – Linear Technology at Bosch Rexroth.
Hydraulics require the use of oil which comes with the risk of leaks as well as additional accessories such as filters. This can make the systems complicated to work with and maintain.
Electromechanical on the other hand, “all you have to feed it is electricity,” said Falasco. “You don’t have to worry about all of those other things you would with hydraulics.”
Therefore, many applications are choosing electromechanical devices in place of hydraulics because of the reduced risk of oil leaks and other benefits possible. He noted there will always be a need for hydraulics – particularly those applications in which tons of force are required.
But for applications where the force range of electromechanical and hydraulic technologies overlap, such as factory automation, it makes sense to use electromechanical said Falasco. And for those applications Bosch Rexroth is continually developing technologies to aid those making the switch from hydraulic to electromechanical.
Most recently, the company introduced an intermediate size of its PLSA planetary screw assembly. The 48 x 20 PLSA has a longer lead which enables it to move faster in fewer turns and helps to keep friction and heat to a minimum, which Falasco said can be a challenge associated with electromechanical devices because of the metal-to-metal contact that occurs. By reducing the friction and heat buildup, this screw assembly enables electromechanical systems to be more competitive with hydraulics.
In this interview with Power & Motion, Falasco discusses the shift from hydraulic to electromechanical devices and the role technological developments such as the PLSA are playing within it.
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