It is well known that hydraulic cylinders are extremely powerful and are great value for money; they have been used in the automation industry for years with great success. However, over the last few years, electric rod actuators have challenged the popularity of hydraulic cylinders. Electric rod actuators are more accurate and can carry out much harder and more intricate work than cylinders. This blog will discuss the pros and cons of both electric rod actuators and hydraulic cylinders to try and work out which one is better.
It is important to consider and remember that technology is constantly changing and evolving, getting better over time. These types of changes directly affect the price of the product and of course how it works.
Hydraulic Cylinders
As hydraulic systems are an older piece of technology, they are known to cost less than electric rod actuators; this piece of equipment is newer and more advanced, so the larger price tag is to be expected. However, hydraulic cylinders are much larger in size and their age also leads to the need for more checks and maintenance to ensure they are working optimally. Furthermore, changes in temperature and other factors really tend to affect the cylinders. It must be noted that cylinders generally last longer than actuators. You also might have guessed that they aren’t as capable and competent as them.
Electric Rod Actuators
In terms of electric rod actuators, they take up less space and are of a smaller size. Their attention to detail is second to none; it is a very skilled piece of technology and barely requires much maintenance. They can be used for a much wider range of tasks and can be extremely profitable in the long term. However, all of this skill and accuracy comes at a price; electric rod actuators are much more expensive, but if used properly you could easily let it work its money back with its precision and longevity. It will be interesting to see in the future to see how electric rods develop.
At Robert Cupitt Limited, we represent Tolomatic and can supply you with power transmission components like the ones mentioned in this blog for a diverse range of industrial and off-road markets. Here at Robert Cupitt Limited, we ensure that all engineers in our company have undergone product training with the principles in the States, and we can provide you with expert assistance with your application in sizing and selecting the most suitable product in terms of functionality and cost.
