Rotary Actuator

There are rotary actuators powered by other than compressed air, in the context of this web site we are discussing the pneumatic rotary actuator.

The purpose of a rotary-actuator is to move the machine tooling in a rotary motion, instead of the linear motion that is provided by typical air cylinders.

With a combination of rotary-actuators and linear actuators then, the machine builder can provide tooling movement similar to that of a human arm, with rotary devices providing the wrist action, grippers to simulate fingers, and linear actuators to provide the reach.

Vane Style Rotary Actuator

There are two methods of providing rotary motion with a pneumatic rotary-actuator.

One style uses internal vane or vanes, the other provides rotary motion through a rack and pinion linkage.

Both styles of rotary actuators will rotate a shaft that protrudes from inside the actuator, and to which the actuator arm and the end-of-arm tooling is attached. As the shaft rotates, so too will the arm and the tooling.

The vane style uses similar technology and concepts to an air tool or air motor. Compressed air flows into one of two air ports in the actuator's vane housing via an air line from the control valve. As the compressed air moves into the vane actuator, it tries to flow from high pressure towards atmosphere - and in so doing it rotates the vanes inside the housing and imparts rotary motion to the shaft.

Vane type rotary actuators are usually double acting . Compressed air flows alternately to one of two air ports in the housing, providing rotary motion in one direction when the control valve is shifted one way, and the rotary motion in the other direction when the valve is shifted back and air flows into the other port.

A concern about using vane, and other types of rotary actuators, is the calculation of the moment of inertia for the load in order to select an actuator with sufficient force. This involves calculating the distribution of the mass of the load as it moves at a continually varying distance from the axis of the actuator shaft.

For example, a 1 Kg load placed axially to the shaft will require a certain amount of force to rotate it. That same load, placed tangentially from the center of the shaft, will require a much greater force to move and to stop it.

When it comes to determining how big a rotary actuator you need for the application, I recommend that you get your staff engineer involved, or use the charts and guidance that is available from the actual manufacturer of the rotary actuator. Much support material for sizing actuators can now be found on line, from the manufacturers website.

It is easy to make a mistake in calculations which will result - at best - in a rotary actuator that will not rotate, and at worst, damage to people or equipment. So please be careful!

Limited Rotation

Vane type rotary actuators are not normally used for greater than 270 degrees of rotation. It is difficult to manufacture them to provide continuous, unidirectional motion. The vanes themselves are an impediment to providing a full 360 degrees of rotation in the vane type.

Other types of rotary actuators can provide more than 360 degrees of rotation if your application requires it.

There will also be applications where a vane type actuator cannot, due to size limitations, be strong enough to provide sufficient torque or degrees of rotation. When this occurs, your next available option is to use a rack-and-pinion style of rotary actuator.

Rack & Pinion Style Rotary Actuator

Picture a standard double acting air cylinder. Now, remove the piston rod and add another piston inside the cylinder barrel. Between the two pistons attach a rack, and have that rack intersect with a pinion located at the center of the cylinder. As compressed air alternately flows into one air port and then the other in the end caps of the cylinder, the pistons and the rack moves back and forth.

The teeth on the rack mesh with the teeth on the pinion gear, imparting a rotational movement to the pinion as the rack moves. The pinion gear is connected to a shaft that protrudes out the side of the cylinder and voila... you have a rack-and-pinion rotary actuator.

Depending on how long the cylinder barrel and the corresponding rack is, this type of rotary actuator can impart rotation to the shaft, arm and tooling from 0 degrees up to whatever may be required for the application. The longer the cylinder barrel, the more the rotation of the shaft.

Backlash

When determining what rotary actuator to use for your application, be aware of how backlash affect the operation of your air equipment.

Selecting A Rotary Actuator

Here are the things you'll need to know to select and use your rotary actuator:

• how big is the load and where is it to be located from the center point of the shaft
• how many degrees of rotation will be required
• what is the cycle rate and cycles per day of the application
• will you need to add lubrication to the actuator
• do you need to be able to adjust the degree of rotation
• what positioning accuracy
• how will you stop the rotation
• how will you mount the rotary actuator
• how will your tooling be attached to the rotary actuator shaft
• will you need to sense the position?