Design Decisions: Electro-mechanical vs. Pneumatic

As an editor, every now and then you come across what seems to be a great new way to communicate needed information to and with your audience. While on the road last week visiting several industry suppliers, I was lucky enough to arrive at just such an idea with the help of one of the suppliers with which I met.

During a meeting with Beverly Nielsen and John Walker of Exlar, a provider of electro-mechanical actuators, they offered me a brief technical reference article addressing the major points about why some designers are choosing electro-mechanical devices over pneumatic ones. The major points addressed in the reference article include positioning capabilities, energy costs and component costs.

Of course, no one would expect an electro-mechanical device manufacturer to say anything but good things about their type of products (and vice versa with a pneumatic device provider), but reading over the technical reference note made me realize the potential in their technical reference on a larger scale.

Design engineers are faced with decision after decision on what types of devices, components, connections, etc. to use on any one of their projects. And while no one source can provide the ultimate answer as to what type of solution to use in every case, there is great potential in providing a platform for discussion around the numerous sides to each decision that designers must consider.

Moving forward, Design News will provide just such a platform for the global design engineering audience. It will be known as “Design Decisions.” This platform will be open to anyone — industry supplier or practicing engineer — to point out the highlights in making one type of design technology decision over another.

You can read the first installment in this new series — the technical reference note from Exlar on the benefits of electro-mechanical actuators versus pneumatic actuators — by clicking here.

If you would like to participate in this new platform, feel free to contact me directly with your idea. Please note that your proposed article should be brief and to the point — highlighting the distinctions between making one decision over another. World length for “Design Decision” articles should be no more than 600 words. Graphics and/or charts to help make your case are also welcome.