March 24, 2007 - The new SKF® actuator lifetime monitoring system offers the capability to continuously track the service-life status of actuators while in operation and signal when actuator replacement is necessary. This unique technology can enhance the reliability, safety, and availability of actuators used widely in countless medical and industrial equipment applications demanding efficient and powerful movement.The onboard system integrates a simple LED color code to display remaining service life, based on specific calculations. Green indicates more than 10% service life and orange illuminates when only 10% remains.
When an actuator reaches its defined service life, the LED turns red and a buzzer sounds for a timely alert.Other features of the system include a memory device mounted in each actuator to record usage in real time and a download interface to collect usage data for accurate record-keeping and maintenance planning. A more sophisticated version can connect to a PC/laptop or a pocket PC (PDA) to capture a variety of data for further analysis.The actuator lifetime monitoring system complies with common EMC requirements and can be integrated with most standard SKF actuators, which can be upgraded easily without requiring design changes or retrofits to their existing envelopes.
