What is the New I/O interface, and why is it so good?

?I/O is a universal industrial interface that LINAK has developed for their TECHLINE industrial actuators. It is a part of our Integrated Controller (IC) range, which is offered across all TECHLINE actuators. I/O is a common term used in industrial automation to describe inputs and outputs. Traditionally, an electric linear actuator has been perceived as a simple device - combining an electric motor, electronics and mechanics to form linear movement. The main driver for this movement is either a brushed or brushless DC motor. These were typically controlled by external power electronics to change the direction of the current, adjust the speed and provide overload protection. LINAK has been supplying IC actuators with these basic control and protection functions built in for many years.?Decades of experience have matured this solution, and with I/O, it all comes together -??to form an intelligent, flexible and configurable actuator interface suitable for a wide range of industrial automation applications.

Flexibility is a key characteristic of an I/O actuator.?

During the development and testing of your equipment, this can save significant time and costs and help result in an optimum linear movement solution. The control functions of the actuator associated with 6 of the digital/analogue inputs and outputs are customisable, often reducing the complexity and cost of the external control system and enabling the linear movement to be tailored to your requirements. To create movement, it is a prerequisite that the actuator receives an input signal. This can be as simple as two digital inputs commanding the actuator to run outwards and inwards. But if you can improve the performance of your equipment by running at different speeds outwards and inwards, this can be easily configured with I/O.?Or if you can optimise your design and save costs by instead giving the actuator an analogue input (e.g. 0-10V or 4-20mA) to control the position the actuator moves to or the speed it operates at in either direction, that can also be configured with I/O.?No extra hardware; just configure the functions using Actuator Connect software.?In addition, modern applications rely on a constant stream of data from the components for increased efficiency and reliable operation - here referred to as outputs from the actuator. These outputs can be either digital or analogue, depending on the requirement of the controller.??

Watch the videos below to learn more, and contact Andrew Cooper directly to discuss your options.

Actuator Connect? configurator | Actuator Academy?

Control and adjust your I/O? actuator | Actuator Academy?

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