Easy-to-Use Calculation Tool for Actuator Selection

BEI Kimco Magnetics, a company of Custom Sensors & Technologies (CST) Inc., has introduced a convenient new tool to calculate the optimum Linear Voice Coil Actuator size for a given application. The new tool was designed to save customers time in determining the most suitable linear actuator by providing a quick and easy downloadable program from the company's web site. 

The new tool can be used in a number of ways. To begin, the viewer downloads the VCA Calculation Tool from the pull-down Products menu at www.beikimco.com. He then enters in the desired operational stroke and moving mass values for the application in the row that most closely matches his desired parameters. Based on the parameters entered, the computer calculates the actuator's maximum acceleration and frequency values and provides the optimum actuator size to select. The user then reviews the acceleration and frequency values calculated to verify that they meet the desired application specifications. In addition to calculating these capabilities, the new tool serves as an excellent reference table to compare other key actuator parameters such as peak force, continuous force, and stroke for all 35 BEI Kimco linear actuators on one easy-to-view page. 

The new tool can calculate sizing for BEI Kimco's complete line of Linear Voice Coil Actuators, which includes cylindrical un-housed, semi-housed, and housed, as well as rectangular styles. The advantages of voice coil technology have made BEI Kimco's actuators well suited for a wide range of applications such as valve actuation, pick and place, mirror steering, and pumps for metering and dosing equipment in the industrial, medical, scientific, semiconductor/electronics, military, and aerospace industries.

"The VCA Calculation Tool was developed to simplify the actuator selection process specifically for oscillatory applications, but can also be used as a simple actuator selection chart as well," says Jim McNamara, senior applications engineer and project manager for BEI Kimco Voice Coil Actuators. "With such a wide selection of BEI Kimco actuators − ranging from 0.4" to 10" in diameter and from 0.70 to 1000 (N) in peak force − this tool helps reduce a vast amount of information into a manageable table. We have already received positive feedback on how easy and helpful it is to use." 

BEI Kimco products have been used successfully in countless applications from high-end Industrial to military and aerospace to medical applications. The ability to provide high performance solutions tailored to the specific needs of the customer has allowed BEI Kimco to fulfill many challenging requirements.