There are various schools of thought when deciding between the use of pneumatic or electric technology for automation. Festo’s business development manager, Russell Schwulst, suggests a sensible mixture of the two technologies, focused on the application in question and the need for energy efficiency.
According to Schwulst, the right approach varies with each individual case. “Festo’s strength is that we can offer both technologies,” he explains. “We can provide expert technology-neutral advice which gives users a view of both alternatives as we have the knowledge and experience required for both electrical and pneumatic solutions.”
Schwulst says that hybrid solutions are often an efficient alternative, combining the best features of both technologies. He takes a typical application – a packaging machine. A conveyor belt accepts a product and sets it down on a second conveyor belt with an outer packaging. This requires two motions: an X axis with a maximum stroke of about 1000 mm and a Z axis with a stroke of around 100 mm. “Now consider the three drive options: pneumatic, electric or pneumatic-electric,” he continues. “A mix of technologies with an electric X axis and a pneumatic Z axis offers the optimal combination of efficiency, cost, flexibility and performance since it allows both types of drive to play to their strengths. For example, the electric axis offers highly dynamic operation and flexibility, while the pneumatic axis is distinguished by its compact size and low weight. Ultimately an optimal solution must be found by focusing not only on the initial purchasing cost but also on overall and environmental costs,” he concludes.
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