Product Release
Compact & Integrated LXY System Automates Safety Critical Components Inspection
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 Posted Feb 01 2008
Filed under: Actuator Rotary Actuator
 SMAC Moving Coil Actuators (MCA) are now used by a major international parts supplier to the automotive industry for measuring & testing safety critical air bag components. With 100% parts testing of all components now a prerequisite within the automotive industry SMAC’s compact & integrated LXY system has now become a defacto standard where a cost effective, reliable & precise solution is required. SMAC has produced a highly successful system where previously lasers & vision systems have failed. The fully automated solution which was originally conducted by human hand is now used to 100% measure & test inline production of air bag components which require a total of nine independent checks – 2 checks externally on the component and 7 checks internally within the part. The cycle time from start to finish for each component is less than 2.5 seconds. It runs 24/7 and enables 100% data feedback & verification of each individual test on each individual part. The SMAC Moving Coil Actuator incorporates the unique ‘Softland’ function which enables full programmability to control speed & positional feedback and therefore the ability to find surfaces or positions in space without damaging the component or SMAC actuator. This facility is used in step 1 of the cycle by gently touching down with a controlled force on the component to be checked and therefore creating a datum point and storing it in a register memory. The cycle then continues and measures the position & width of a machined retaining groove and also checks for chips, swarf & other debris in the retaining groove that would cause potential failure of the air bag to activate when required. This is done with a repeatability of +/- 2 encoder counts ensuring an exceptional degree of accuracy. The bore depth of the component is then measured: The distance to the bottom of the bore is now captured and compared to the previously stored datum point. From this the controller then accurately calculates the actual bore depth and measures it against that required. The SMAC system automatically checks the bore diameter, bore depth, retaining groove width & diameter, parameters with any problems or discrepancies on the component being flagged up and reported. This SMAC solution which was highly cost efficient has now been rolled out in a number of sister manufacturing plants across the world. The SMAC Moving Coil Actuators are designed to deliver the following benefits: Compact overall size, light in weight, extremely fast, highly precise and offering a combination of programmable force, position & velocity in both the linear & rotary axis both at the same time. Operating Environment: SMAC devices can & are used in machine shop floor environment, offering a solution that can hold up well to the environmental elements commonly present on a machine shop floor. Gage Correlation: The SMAC actuators are able to be set up in a manner that will allow for them to be easily calibrated & correlated to proven manual or CMM inspection methods. Output of Variable Data: All SMAC controllers allow for output of variable data in a variety of formats that the user can configure in their program. This allows for ease of use when interfacing the SMAC to another system. SMAC Inc is the world leader in Moving Coil Actuators and associated control systems. Headquartered in Carlsbad, California USA with subsidiaries throughout the North America, Europe, Asia & Japan. SMAC delivers high tech solutions to industry with single & multi axes linear, linear actuators, rotary actuators, integrated XY stages & XYZ stages, positioning stages and electronic control solutions.
New Compact and Robust SMAC Programmable Electric Cylinder is Only 12 mm in Diameter
Posted Oct 02 2008
Filed under: Actuator Linear Actuator
 SMAC Inc is launching its new CAL12 series of electric actuators. The CAL12 series have 12mm diameter with a stroke length of 10mm. They have been designed to offer a long life cycle and much more precise & repeatable force control and positioning, and are the first linear motors to challenge conventional LVDT devices.
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SMAC Electric Actuators Replacing Pneumatics in Glass Manufacturing Applications
Posted Aug 06 2008
Filed under: Actuator Linear Actuator Linear Motor
 SMAC electric actuators based on Moving Coil Technology are rapidly replacing pneumatic and electro-pneumatic conventional solutions in such glass manufacturing operations as scoring and bevelling of solar panels - LCD panels and inline glass production.
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SMAC Technology Moving Coil Actuator Explained
Posted Jul 31 2008
Filed under: Actuator Linear Motor
 At the heart of all SMAC actuators is the moving coilThe principle is broadly the same as you will find in any permanent magnet loudspeaker. The voice coil sits in a strong magnetic field, and by passing a current through the coil a force is generated in either direction.
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Inline CMM Means No Defective Parts Shipped to End Users
Posted Jun 09 2008
Filed under: Linear Motor X-Y Positioning
 Automotive industry parts and assembly quality standards have moved from sigma level sampling to zero defect requirements. This can be achieved through a combination of containment through 100% inspections(eliminating bad parts) and correction through immediate feedback and adjustment.
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LXYM15 Series Open Frame XY Stage by SMAC
Posted Mar 19 2008
Filed under: Actuator X-Y Positioning
 SMAC 2 axis XY moving coil stage of open frame construction. This actuator is intended for use in applications where it is necessary to move a sample over an optical inspection device and view through the sample. Utilising standard, proven SMAC components the XY stage provides accurate positioning capability at superior speed to alternative motorised devices. Positioning across the entire range of movement (15mm) is achievable in less than 100ms. Precision guiding systems, strategically positioned relative to the stage insert, ensure flatness across the system.
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Diesel Injector Assembly Inspection – Constant Spring Rate & Test of Shims
Posted Feb 11 2008
Filed under: Actuator
 A single SMAC electric actuator eliminates “stack up of errors” and feedback force and position SMAC Moving Coil Actuators (MCA) are helping a world leading manufacturer of diesel injectors to reduce emissions by using an actuator to determine the spring characteristics in their injectors. The standard SMAC characteristics of programmable force control coupled to a sub-micron resolution encoder feedback ensures that the measurement of spring rates and deflection are carried out with great accuracy and repeatability.
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Compact Low Profile Gripper, GRP17 Series for QC Measuring and Parts Handling by SMAC
Posted Jan 22 2008
Filed under: Servo Controller
 The GRP17 has been developed to provide a compact low profile gripper which provides high performance in a small package size. The unit has a stroke length of 5mm per jaw and encoder resolution options of 5, 1 or 0.5 micron. The low moving mass, coupled to zero backlash and low hysteresis provides you with the capacity to perform very high speed moves within tightly defined performance envelopes. Due to the high degree of accuracy and repeatability the unit is especially useful for QC measuring while parts are being handled, making it ideal for inline QC inspection.
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SMAC Linear & Rotary Actuators – Offer Precise Force Control & Accurate Repeatable Positioning
Posted Nov 30 2007
Filed under: Actuator
 SMAC provide a comprehensive selection of combined linear & rotary actuators with either direct drive or gearbox equipped rotary units. They are fully programmable in force/torque, position & speed in all axes with data feedback facility. Unique ability “Soft-land” is ideal for handling delicate components to avoid damage. Accurate repeatable positioning to +/- 2 encoder counts. Standard linear resolution on all SMAC actuators is 5 micron with 1micron, half micron and 0.1 micron options available on most models. The rotary resolution varies between 4864 counts for gearbox units and
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SMAC Moving Coil Actuators Provide Accurate and Repeatable 100% Measurement on Automated Inline Inspection
Posted Nov 20 2007
Filed under: Actuator
 SMAC were approached by a leading automotive parts manufacturer to solve what had been a long term inspection problem. A key component used in the air suspension system had a critical tolerance which was dictated by the height of a rubber insert. Traditionally this was inspected by hand with a digital gauge but variance caused by operator error was too great. Therefore automation was essential but accurate and repeatable 100% measurement of this rubber part had proved impossible until SMAC Moving Coil Actuators were chosen as a solution
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SOFTLAND onto Fragile Components - Die Bonder Head from SMAC
Posted Oct 26 2007
Filed under: Actuator
 SMAC Linear Rotary Actuators such as LAR-AR series have been successfully used in die bonding and smart card applications. Unique ability “Softland” is ideal for handling fragile and brittle components. SMAC provide automation solutions for a wide variety of Electronics applications. The SMAC unique “Softland” routine within the actuator allows the rod to approach at high speed then land on the surface of a component with a low programmable force. This unique feature is extremely useful whenever delicate or high value components are being handled.
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SMAC Linear Slide Actuators Offer a High Degree of Speed & Position Repeatability to Improve Your System
Posted Oct 23 2007
Filed under: Linear Actuator
 SMAC linear slide actuators (Moving Coil Technology) such as LASW20 series are successfully used in high speed bowl feeder & escapement mechanism. 50,000 cycle/hour Can run 24/7 Units have been in the field for 18 months with no failures Life test unit currently at 250,000,000 cycles
SMAC linear slide actuators are also ideal for very demanding applications such as scanning, bottle ejecting, labeling, positioning, gauging and inspection
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100% Automated Inline Thread Checking from SMAC
Posted Oct 10 2007
Filed under: Actuator
 Having problems with your current inspection system with Eddy Currant or cameras….? Or are you still gauging parts manually? A unique automated contact measurement system from SMAC successfully automates these inspection procedures and perform even in poor environment where conventional solutions have failed. SMAC Linear/Rotary actuators such as the LAR55 series have been implemented by numerous customers for 100% thread check inspection.
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Duplicate Fingers – 100% Switch Test Solutions from SMAC
Posted Sep 11 2007
Filed under: Actuator
 SMAC Electric Actuators - Moving Coil Technology Electric Actuators from SMAC provide innovative switch test solutions to automotive suppliers & White Goods manufacturers… Carlsbad, CA - Electric Actuators from SMAC Inc is proving to be ideal for OEM’s & component manufacturers in a variety of ‘switch test’ applications.
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Actuator - Electric Cylinders Offer a Long Lifespan
Posted Jul 31 2007
Filed under: Actuator
 SMAC is pleased to announce the introduction of its new CA range of electric cylinders. Starting with 25 and 35mm diameter actuators the range will consist of cylinders from 8 to 100mm diameters with stroke lengths of up to 100mm. They have been designed to accept a wide variety of mounting options that include ISO, DIN, VDMA, CETOP, JFPA and NFPA standards and dimensions.
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