Actuator – How Industrial Components work
An actuator is a component of a machine responsible for moving and controlling a mechanism or system, for example by opening a valve. In simple terms, it is an “engine”.
An actuator requires a control signal and a power source. The control signal is low energy and can be electrical voltage or current, pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, or even human power. The main energy source can be an electric current, hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure. When receiving a control signal, an actuator responds by converting the source's energy into mechanical motion. In electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic fields, it is a form of automation or automatic control.
An actuator is a mechanism by which a control system acts to perform an operation or task. The control system can be simple (a fixed mechanical or electronic system), software-based (e.g. a printer driver, robotic control system), a person, or any other input
For more information on how actuators work
Request for actuators and other industrial spare parts
If you are looking for industrial actuators and spare parts, visit the online catalog Unitec:
Actuators in our online catalog
Buy books
Electric Motors and Drives: Fundamentals, Types and Applications
Best-selling reference on electric motors and drives for non-specialists, bridging the gap between mathematics and theory.
Mechanical Design of Electric Motors
Rapid increases in energy consumption and attention to environmental protection have posed challenges for the motor industry, as has the design and production of highly efficient, reliable, economical, energy-efficient, quiet, precisely controlled and durable electric motors.
Suitable for motor designers, engineers and manufacturers, as well as maintenance personnel, undergraduate and graduate students, and academic researchers, Mechanical Design of Electric Motors provides in-depth knowledge of cutting-edge electric motor design methods and developments. From engine classification, engine component design, model configuration, material and bearing selection, power losses, engine cooling, design integration, vibration and acoustic noise, this comprehensive text covers the fundamentals, practical design and issues related to the design, modeling and simulation, engineering analysis, manufacturing processes, test procedures and performance characteristics of current electric motors.
Focusing on the mechanical design of modern electric motors, the book:
Details the design and manufacturing of major components and subsystems, such as rotors, shafts, stators, and frames
Examines various cooling techniques, including forced air, liquid, and phase change cooling
Discusses the analysis and calculation of engine power losses
Addresses engine vibration and acoustic noise issues
Presents engineering analysis methods and case study results
Emphasizes construction, optimization, and applications
Featuring research findings from the author's personal experience and the significant contributions of others, Mechanical Design of Electric Motors highlights the innovative and advanced electric motors developed in recent decades.
Mechanical Design of Electric Motors
The importance of electric motors is well known in various engineering sectors. The book provides comprehensive coverage of various types of electric motors including DC motors, three-phase and single-phase induction motors, synchronous motors, universal motor, AC servo motor, linear induction motor and stepper motors. The book covers all the details of DC motors including torque equation, back emf, characteristics, types of starters, speed control methods and applications.
The book also covers various testing methods of DC motors such as Swinburne test, braking test, deceleration test, field test and Hopkinson test. The book further explains three phase induction motors in detail. Includes rotating magnetic field production, construction, operation, effect of slip, torque equation, torque ratios, torque-slip characteristics, losses, power flow, equivalent circuit, effect of harmonics on performance, circular diagram, and applications. This chapter also includes discussion of the induction generator. The book teaches various starting methods and speed control methods of three-phase induction motors. The book incorporates the explanation of various single phase induction motors. The chapter on synchronous motors provides the detailed discussion of construction, working principle, load behavior, phasor diagram analysis, Vee and Inverted Vee curves, synchronous oscillation, synchronous capacitor and applications. The book also teaches the various special machines such as single-phase commutator motor, universal motor, AC servo motor, linear induction motor and stepper motors. The book uses simple and lucid language to explain each topic. The book provides the logical method to explain various complicated topics and step by step methods to facilitate understanding. Each chapter is well supported with necessary illustrations, self-explanatory diagrams and a variety of solved problems. The book explains the philosophy of the topic which makes the understanding of the concepts very clear and makes the topic more interesting.
Motor Starting and Control Primer: An introduction to the starting techniques and control of electric motors
Whether you are a busy electrical engineer who needs to get back into starting motors, a busy student new to the subject, or an interested person with an hour to spare, this book is the place to start. Steven McFadyen shares his expertise in the field of engine starting in a clear and easily accessible manner without time-consuming words or self-referential discussions. Complete with circuit diagrams and in-depth explanations of the most common motor starting methods – and the challenges – this book is an invaluable reference. It has something to offer anyone who is eager to learn new things, while also assisting practicing electrical engineers to design and implement reliable and functional motor starters.
