Economical and easy to use, the Robo Cylinder® is specifically designed to accomplish the simple tasks usually assigned to air cylinder units, but with greater flexibility, control, and efficiency. The Robo Cylinder PC Interface Software provides a simple, user-friendly means of 'teaching' your Robo Cylinder controller.

Multiple positioning is one of the main advantages the Robo Cylinder enjoys over pneumatic cylinders. Both the RCP Controller and the RCS Controller store 16 user-defined positions programmable throughout the full stroke length.

Programming the Robo Cylinder using the Intelligent Actuator RC software is a simple task. The controller was designed to be a "dumb" positioner, or a slave to a PLC or other master device. Once the positions have been taught through the software all the PLC need to do is select one of the sixteen possible positions (through binary inputs) and toggle a move signal.

Using only 16 positions and eliminating any programmability or user I/O brings down the system cost, making the Robo Cylinder very affordable. By utilizing our Robo Cylinder serial communication protocol, a PLC or industrial PC could store the point table and send over the changes via RS485. This method creates virtually an infinite amount of positions stored remotely in the PLC or Industrial PC.

Robo Cylinders can be controlled via standard 24VDC I/O or an RS485 serial communication link. By using serial communication in combination with the digital I/O, 16 Robo Cylinders can be linked together in a variety of network configurations to meet your low-cost automation needs. The RCS controller is available with DeviceNet, UNI-WIRE, CC-Link, or PROFIBUS network capabilities.

Point to Point Motion

Though the controller is simple to program, it is flexible in the positions that are taught. Each position in the point table can have it's own velocity, acceleration, and deceleration. The Robo Cylinder can then move from point to point in response to external signals. In a point-to-point motion pattern the actuator will simply move to a programmed position.

Incremental Motion

Though the controller can only store 16 points, it can move to more positions. The point table has a field that will allow the position to be considered an absolute move or an incremental move. An absolute move will move to a fixed distance from home. An incremental move will move a programmed distance away from its current location. This would allow the actuator to move along its entire length if the same incremental move was executed enough times.

PUSH Function

In the "PUSH" mode the RCP motor will rotate at 75 RPM. The controller will be expecting to encounter a force during that "PUSH" movement. Once that force has been encountered the Robo Cylinder will "PUSH" or maintain constant, programmed torque against the force without entering an error or alarm situation. It will maintain the torque until the Robo Cylinder is instructed to move again. In the case that a force is not encountered the actuator will simply move a programmed distance and stop.