electric actuator VS Pneumatic Actuators

Is Electric the Best Actuator for Your Application?

While electric actuators can be a great choice for applications such as those listed above, they are not universally useful. Electric actuators cost more upfront than other types of actuators, and even though they can be less expensive to operate, they are best suited for situations where you need only a small number of actuators.

So, depending on your operational requirements and working conditions, pneumatic actuators may be the better choice, long-term. That’s especially true if your application will require high speed or force, but there are other factors to consider, as well.

When Should You Choose Pneumatic Actuators?

For example, pneumatic cylinders are the go-to choice for most industrial equipment, car wash systems, etc. because compressed air is often readily available. A pneumatic cylinder can function from 15-110 psi. These actuators are cost-effective to operate and come in both single and double-acting models.

• Single-acting actuators (the cylinder strokes in only one direction) are very simple, a significant plus where ruggedness and reliability are required.
• Double-acting actuators (which can move loads both forward and backward, or up and down) offer tremendous control over load movements.

W.C. Branham designs and manufactures four different styles of rodless pneumatic cylinders that can be configured in almost endless ways. All are designed to fit into compact spaces, saving as much as 50% of space compared to traditional actuators.