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Low Cost Automation Tutorial

#029 Construction Elements of Low Cost Automation (LCA)

Category : Hints on designing
February12, 2010

Three fundamental elements of LCA, the Mechanism, the Actuator, and the Controller are explained in this section. Firstly, definitions of the three elements are discussed.

Definitions of the fundamental LCA elements

Mechanism

Construction elements that generate added value such as process/assemble by taking inputs from actuator and controller/sensor.

Actuator

Construction elements that extract mechanical energy as outputs from non-mechanical energy inputs.

Controller

Construction elements that generate non-mechanical energy as outputs from input signals.

Sensor

Construction elements that generate signal outputs from physical phenomena inputs.

Regarding LCA construction elements

 Fundamental unitConstruction elements
MechanismProcess/assembly mechanism
Linear/rotary motion mechanism
Mechanical hand
Parts feeder, etc.
Transfer mechanism
Base
Screw/washer, shaft, shaft coupling, gear, belt/chain, clutch/brake, spring, cam/linkage, ballscrew, etc.

Slide guide, cable carrier/duct, etc.

Rail, caster, vibration damping pad/rubber, etc.
ActuatorPneumatic device, hydraulic device, electric actuator, solid state actuatorAir cylinder, etc.
Hydraulic cylinder, etc.
Rotary motor, linear motor, etc.
Piezo-electric actuator, etc.
ControllerControllerRelay switch type
Programmable logic controller
Micro processor controlled
Relay logic sequence control
Programmable sequence controller
Personal computer (PC) control
SensorDetection sensor
Measurement sensor
Momentum sensor
Mechanical quantity sensor
Deflection, angular displacement sensor, etc (on/off type)

Temperature/humidity sensor (quantitative measurement type)

Speed/acceleration sensor, etc. (same as above)

Distortion/pressure/vibration sensor etc. (Same as above)

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