Linear Drive Technology: What designers want and how we help them

Electrical drive technology: Designers are ingenious people who develop great drive solutions

Designers in drive technology deserve our full support. Only with this support can they construct and successfully complete complex drive technology projects quickly and without long wait times. Typically, they face these challenges:

They need to develop and design machines, fixtures, assembly solutions, special machines, and automation systems. The timeline is usually very demanding (better yesterday than today). Therefore, they rely on suppliers who can:

1. provide expert advice,
2. deliver ready-to-use construction elements,
3. and quickly supply CAD data.

How we help them and what solutions and expertise we offer is detailed in this article.

Drive technology: How does a designer find the right supplier with the necessary advisory and solution competence?

If a designer has been working in the field for a long time, they have their "favorite suppliers." They know them, have good contacts, and know from experience that they receive good advice there. So, they'll turn to them first.

If they're relatively new to the field, they'll take a different approach. They'll use Google and other search engines, entering typical search terms.

For example, they might search for Screw Jack, Spindle Drive, Electric Cylinder, Linear Actuator, Electric Drive, Linear Chain, Spindle, or Lift Drive. They might also look for Trapezoidal Screw or Ball Screw. For them, only what appears in their internet search exists. Companies they don't find don't exist for them.

They're not only searching specifically for drive elements but also entering specific queries such as:

1. Tips for performing a lifting application
2. How should a lifting gear be installed?
3. Are CAD models available?
4. What are the typical delivery times on the market?
5. Are these components available in stainless steel?
6. And what happens next?

What designers look for when choosing linear drive technology

When designers purchase Screw Jacks, many factors must be considered to ensure that the chosen drive meets customer requirements. Here are the 10 most important aspects:

1. Performance: The performance of the Screw Jack is crucial. It should be capable of lifting the required load and achieving the necessary speed.
2. Size and Weight: The physical properties of the drive, such as its size and weight, are important factors. These must match the available space and the load capacity of the machine or system.
3. Quality and Durability: A high-quality Screw Jack with a long lifespan under expected operating conditions is essential. It's often worthwhile to pay more for a high-quality drive that requires less maintenance and less frequent replacement.
4. Price: The price is always a significant factor. However, it's important to consider the total cost of ownership, including maintenance and replacement costs, not just the purchase price.
5. Reliability: A reliable Screw Jack that performs consistently even under demanding conditions is crucial.
6. Customer Service and Support: Customer service and technical support from the manufacturer are also important. They should be able to assist quickly and efficiently with any questions or issues.
7. Compatibility and Interfaces: The Screw Jack must be compatible with the other components of the machine or system.
8. Safety: Depending on the application, compliance with safety standards and certifications can also be important.
9. Standards and Regulations: Designers must ensure that their designs comply with applicable safety standards and regulations to protect user health and ensure regulatory compliance.
10. Material Selection: Choosing the right materials for different components is crucial to ensure they can withstand environmental conditions, loads, and other requirements.

Using ready-made components in electrical drive technology saves time and money

When a designer starts a new linear drive technology project, they aim to use as many ready-made components as possible. Components that have already proven themselves in practice. For a linear drive solution, they can rely on these ready-made components from our company:

1. Electric Cylinders
2. Screw Jacks
3. Linear Chains
4. Linear Actuators
5. Spindle Drives

They won't consider designing a Screw Jack from scratch when they can buy one ready-made in various sizes. The more ready-made components they can purchase and use, the more time they have to focus on developing a perfect solution. This saves time and costs, allowing them to concentrate on their core competence—designing an assembly system or special-purpose machine.

The questions are:

1. How do they find the best supplier for the required components?
2. How do they find a supplier that provides competent advice on selecting the right solution?
3. How do they find the right components?

Quickly narrowing down to 5-7 potential suppliers

In his search, a designer will quickly identify 5-7 companies that could potentially supply the components he needs for drive technology. He'll likely contact these companies (at least the first two or three on his list). Given that designers are often under time pressure, two factors are crucial for them in the selection process:

Speed

He wants quick and easy access to all the components he plans to use. For him, it’s all about: "Whoever provides a CAD model first, gets my attention."

If CAD data is available immediately, it can save the designer up to 30% in time. Why? Because he can proceed directly with our CAD data and doesn’t need to search for alternatives.

That’s why designers can download the CAD data they need with a single click on our website, available in various formats.

1. All CAD data for our Screw Jacks, Linear Chains, MINI Actuators, and Electric Cylinders can be found here.
2. Additionally, all product catalogs and technical data are available here.

What else is important to the designer?

Safety and Competent Advice

Often, he must design a functional solution under time constraints, with sales also pushing for "When can we deliver?" Therefore, he has clear expectations: “I need someone who provides advisory support and supplies important data.”

His typical questions include:

1. “Will the gear handle the load?”
2. “Have I chosen the right gear or Electric Cylinder?”
3. “Can we have on-site technical consultation?”
4. “How quickly are the parts available?”

By the way, when it comes to fast delivery, we decided years ago to increase our in-house production and inventory. Our customers now benefit from this decision. Learn more in our article, "Why we chose to increase in-house production and inventory years ago."

Of course, on-site technical consultation is available. Through personal consultation, we ensure that everything fits and that he has selected the right drive elements in the correct size.

In the end, it’s important for him to have a direct contact person at the supplier who provides competent advice. This way, he can call directly at any time and receive immediate, expert support.

That’s why we place great importance on:

1. Providing immediate access to our CAD data for every interested party.
2. Offering competent, fair, and prompt advice.
3. Delivering the best possible solution in terms of cost-effectiveness, energy consumption, durability, and customer service.

Early and competent advice prevents later issues and saves money

We all know the tendency to procrastinate on projects and decisions. Often, we only take action when it’s almost too late. In many cases, this approach might work, but good design requires time. Designers and our application engineers need time to find the ideal solution. Our experience from 78 years in the business is:

1. The earlier we discuss your requirements, the sooner we can develop the best possible solution for you.
2. The more time we have to talk without pressure, the better the final solution will be.
3. Good communication as early as possible never hurts.

We’ve often found that designers come to us with a certain idea in mind, only to discover during consultation that a different solution might be even better for their application.

So, the earlier we start the conversation, the better the solutions we can provide.

Therefore, our offer: Let’s discuss your project, even if you only have an initial idea. The sooner, the better.

What should designers watch for in linear drives?

Designers should be mindful of harmful side loads, as they have the potential to generate high bending moments. High bending moments can be dangerous for spindles, whether they are Trapezoidal or Ball Screw Spindles. Excessive bending moments can exceed the elastic range of the spindle, resulting in the spindle remaining permanently bent.

In general, side loads should always be avoided, as any type of side load can reduce the lifespan of the linear drive. In the worst case, it can lead to premature failure of the linear drive. Here are three important rules for designers when designing linear drives:

1. Ensure a tension-free installation.
2. Plan for a flexible bearing of the lifting elements.
3. Guide the load with sufficient accuracy.

Why we wrote a technical textbook for designers

It's quite unusual for a mid-sized company to write its own technical book for customers, users, designers, and students. The reason is rather simple, as Gerhard Pfeil, a partner in the company, explains:

Learn more about our technical book, "Fundamentals of Linear Drive Technology," and where you can order it here.

Let’s summarize

Designers in drive technology seek suppliers who provide expert advice, deliver ready-made construction elements, and supply CAD data quickly. This can save up to 30% of time, allowing them to proceed directly with their design without searching for alternative options. Engineers and designers worldwide in mechanical engineering and industry rely on the proven and reliable Screw Jacks that have been established for decades as effective drive solutions.