The core of flexible production lies in rapidly adapting to process requirements of diverse products. Thanks to their structural design and control modes, electric cylinders fundamentally resolve the “rigid limitations” of conventional drives.

1. Programmable Control: Parameter Switching Without Mechanical Adjustment

• Electric cylinders: With servo systems and host controllers, multiple sets of motion parameters can be pre?configured. Different product variants correspond to separate parameter groups. For product changeover, simply select the product model on the touch screen or MES system and recall parameters with one click. No manual mechanical modification is required.
• Pneumatic / hydraulic cylinders: Stroke and speed are adjusted via mechanical limit stops and throttle valves. Product changeover involves disassembling limit stops, recalibrating positions, and tuning pneumatic or hydraulic valves. The whole procedure is cumbersome and delivers unstable accuracy.

2. High Accuracy and Consistency for Multi?variant Process Requirements

A key pain point of mixed?model production is varying accuracy requirements across products. Electric cylinders meet such demands with the following features: Repeat positioning accuracy reaches ±0.01?mm ~ ±0.05?mm, precisely satisfying process needs ranging from micro?electronic component assembly to heavy?duty automotive component pressing. Closed?loop thrust / torque control enables real?time output?force adjustment. On a single production line, it can perform precision bonding at 10?N as well as heavy?load pressing up to 10?t without replacing drive units. Programmable motion profiles allow motion rhythm tuning according to material properties of different products to prevent workpiece damage.

3. Modular Design for Fast Combinations to Match Various Processes

Built on a modular architecture, electric cylinders can be rapidly combined for different process scenarios:

• Single?axis electric cylinders perform linear handling and positioning.
• Multi?axis combinations (XY?axis, XYZ?axis) realize complex trajectories such as arcs and polylines, suitable for assembly, inspection, welding and other processes.
• Equipped with rotary modules, grippers and other accessories, functions can be quickly expanded. For instance, “linear pressing” can be upgraded to “pressing plus rotary locking” without production?line reconstruction.

4. Digital Integration for Seamless Connection with Flexible Production Systems

Supporting industrial fieldbuses including Profinet and EtherCAT, electric cylinders can be directly connected to MES, PLC and digital?twin systems:

• MES automatically releases production schedules and process parameters. Electric cylinders switch production recipes accordingly to achieve unattended product changeover.
• Real?time upload of production data (output, cycle time, pass rate) facilitates flexible production scheduling and quality traceability.
• New?product process parameters can be pre?commissioned on digital?twin platforms, eliminating offline downtime?based tuning and further boosting flexible?production efficiency.