12 prerequisites to address :

1/ Stroke :

Expressed in mm, it corresponds to the distance travelled by the cylinder rod (from the max. retracted position to the max. extended position).

2/ Force:

Expressed in N, this defines the pushing or pulling force of the rod. It depends on the actuator kinematics (motor electrical power, type of screw used, reduction ratio, system efficiency, duty cycle, buckling, etc.).

3/ Speed :

Expressed in mm/s, this is the speed at which the rod extends or retracts. On some models, it varies if the resistive force is unstable.

4/ Supply voltage :

Expressed in V, depending on the model, it will be 24 V-CC (see 12 or 48), 230 V-AC / 50 Hz single-phase or 400 V-AC / 50 Hz three-phase.

5/ Duty Cycle :

Expressed in %, this corresponds to the maximum time the motor can be energised at an ambient temperature of 20°C. This data ensures that the motor does not exceed its acceptable temperature limit.
S1: Continuous operation.
S2: Short-term operation. i.e. 5 minutes continuous operation followed by a rest period sufficient for the actuator to cool down.
S3: In % - Time when the actuator is energised over a period of 10 minutes. If, in the chosen version, the thermo-electric contact is provided, this will protect the motor - it will not protect the mechanics, which may be damaged, in the event of an overload on the rod.

Important: some motors are not fitted with a thermal safety contact.
ELERO motors are S1 or S3 (except the Junior 2 - 230V and the Picolo which are S2). ADE motors are S1.

6/ Overall dimensions :

Expressed in mm, this defines the dimensions of an actuator. It depends essentially on the stroke, force and power of the motor, but also on the mounting configuration (e.g. in-line or side-mounted motor) and the options required.
> Contact us for dimensional drawings.

7/ Service life :

It is the wear on the mechanical parts of the cylinder that limits its service life. This value is therefore difficult to estimate. It depends essentially on the total distance travelled by the rod, the load (which is often variable), the technology used - threaded screw (MST) or ball screw (MSK) - and many other factors. Ask us for advice.

8/ Protection :

Characterised by the IP index (Standard EN 60 528), it indicates the quality of protection against the penetration of liquid or solid inside the cylinders. It is therefore essential to know in advance the constraints of the ambient environment (exposure, temperature, humidity, acidity, corrosion, etc.).

9/ Risk of reversibility :

When the cylinder is stationary, it may be subjected to a force that causes its rod to move unexpectedly. A mechanical spring brake can be added to the kinematics to offset this risk.

10/ Stopping position accuracy :

Expressed in mm, this will depend on the type of screw, the inertia in movement and the speed of movement (also take account of mechanical deformation under load and play in the screw/nut system due to wear). Please specify your requirements.

11/ Electromechanical force limiter :

Device added to the kinematics to cut off the motor when the force is too great (deformation of Belleville washers acting on a cam which activates an electrical contact).

12/ Limit switches, potentiometers and encoders :

> Limit switches :
These are used to stop the motor when the rod has reached the extreme positions, and are essential to prevent damage to the actuator mechanics and destruction of the motor through abnormal overheating. During operation, the movement of the actuator must not be interrupted by any obstacle (if the actuator is fitted with a thermo-electric contact, it will not have time to react).
For ADE actuators, limit switches remain an option to be ordered if you do not manage the movement of the rod using a potentiometer or a mechanical overload limiter.
On Elero models, the positions of the limit switches are adjustable.

> Potentiometers and encoders :
These options provide information on the intermediate positions of the rod as it moves.
1/ Potentiometers: these transmit variable resistance information proportional to the position of the spindle. They can be used instead of limit switches.
2/ Encoders: these count a number of pulses per revolution of the motor (or of a kinematic component). With this option, limit switches are still essential.

Please note: most of the options modify the cylinder dimensions.