Trimmer fences and precision end trim (PET) saws are two of many applications in the lumber manufacturing industry where electromechanical linear actuators have been successfully applied in place of traditional electrohydraulic actuators. Other applications include veneer lathe carriages, cut-off saws, edger saws, and stacker forks.
Advantages that electromechanical actuators provide over hydraulic actuators include tighter control, quicker response, simpler setup, reduced maintenance, and the elimination of hydraulic oil. Another factor is energy efficiency. A typical servo electromechanical system runs with 80% efficiency or higher, whereas a typical hydraulic system is 40 to 50% efficient or lower. To watch a short video of some common lumber mill applications, courtesy of Exlar Corp., Chanhassen, Minn., go to www.motionsystemdesign.com and click on Videos in the Interactive Products section of the homepage.