Upgrading a linear servo press: hydraulic to electric

18 June, 2025

While sufficient acceleration is necessary to achieve the required force, speed and its control are also vital to servo press performance. High-speed operation enables higher cycle times and production rates, while precise speed control is essential to production quality, enabling dynamic management across the stroke.

Specifying an actuator

To achieve the required motion characteristics, screw technology choice is also important. While ball screws are suited to applications that require moderate loads at high speeds, and a more cost-conscious selection, planetary roller screws are the premium choice. Spreading the load over a larger area enables significantly higher force transmission, while greater axial stiffness and reduced elastic deformation enhance precision and repeatability.

Fundamental to driving the actuator is motor selection, which could be integrated into the actuator or chosen separately. An integrated motor can simplify and speed up design, and models like Tolomatic’s IMA series are compact, durable, and ideal for lower force applications. Alternatively, using a separate motor enables gear integration if additional force is required - though selection of the motor requires its own motion specification.

While high-resolution position feedback can be provided by adding an encoder, force control feedback is also necessary. To achieve this, a strain gauge is a cost-effective approach, and its accuracy is sufficient for many general applications. Alternatively, using motor torque feedback increases accuracy, especially if a load cell is added to calibrate actuator force output. Load cells can also be integrated into the press fixture itself, placing the sensor much closer to the point of force application, resulting in higher accuracy.

Engineering support

To accurately specify the linear servo press, brands like Tolomatic offer sizing software that can manage complex calculations including desired motion profiles. If designers have bespoke requirements, or prefer to talk in person, they can discuss their needs with INMOCO’s engineers who can advise on specification and coordinate with established actuator manufacturers.

Specifying an actuator for a press doesn’t end with motion requirements. Achieving safety standards is vital, including providing necessary safety features. In the heavy-duty environment where presses operate, they must also be sufficiently durable to deal with temperature, humidity, dust, washdowns, and vibration. They must also be able to integrate with the host automation and control system and enable straightforward set up. To maximise productivity, the actuators must also offer long-term reliability, combined with straightforward maintenance.

INMOCO’s engineers, supported by Tolomatic's engineering team, can provide linear servo press designers with a holistic service that accommodates all the requirements of specification.

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