Rockwell Automation MPAI Heavy Duty Electric Cylinders - Manual (Page 7)

MP-Series Heavy Duty Electric Cylinders 7
Rockwell Automation Publication MPAI-IN001E-EN-P - March 2012
• If you are mounting your electric cylinder in a vertical or sloping position, include safety
measures that will control the work load, should the spindle nut fail.
• Keep the rod from rotating when in use to achieve consistent linear motion. In most
applications the connection to the load inherently provides anti-rotation. If your work
load is free to rotate when the actuator is attached use the anti-rotate option, catalog
MPAI-NE x02xx, to prevent rotation.
• Corrosive environments reduce the service life of electric cylinders.
• Where possible, install the electric cylinder with the grease fitting facing up. This will
reduce the residual grease from falling or dripping on your application.
• Factory-manufactured feedback and power cables are available in standard cable lengths.
They provide environmental sealing and shield termination. Contact your
Allen-Bradley® sales office or refer to the Kinetix Motion Control Selection Guide,
publication GMC-SG001 , for additional information.
Prolonging Electric Cylinder Life
Thoughtful design and proper maintenance can increase the life of an electric cylinder. Follow
these guidelines to maximize the life of a electric cylinder especially within a food processing
environment:
• Always provide a drip loop in each cable to carry liquids away from the connection to the
motor.
• If design requirements permit, provide shields that protect the motor housing, thrust
rod, seals, and their junctions from contamination by foreign matter or fluids.
• Replace the thrust rod seals at or before its expected lifetime of 12-months.
Refer to
page 59 for catalog information on thrust rod seals.
• Inspect the seals for damage or wear on a regular basis. If damage or excessive wear is
observed, replace the item.
ATTENTION: Uncontrolled moving masses can cause injury or damage to property.
If there is a spindle nut fracture inside the actuator cylinder due to wear, the working
mass will drop down.
Check whether additional external safety measures are required to prevent damage in
the event of a spindle nut fracture.