Piezoelectric technology and a system of travel and pressure sensors, together with control through so-called Motion Apps, offer new perspectives to machine and plant manufacturers.
Ten functions are available via Motion Apps for the Festo Motion Terminal: from modifying the operation of the directional control valve to proportional behavior and different motion profiles, including smooth movement to the final position and energy-efficient movements. What makes it special is that everything operates using identical valve hardware. By quickly integrating new functions through Apps, machine developers can now create a basic machine type and, depending on the App selection, equip these machines with different functions and features according to customer requirements. Additional Apps are in development.
Software-based function assignment offers further advantages, such as enhanced security against tampering and protection of technical expertise, as it is impossible to know from the outside which functions the valves are performing.
Energy savings in application operation are ensured by the specially developed Motion Apps, as well as by the application's leak detection function. Piezoelectric technology for the proportional valve's pre-phase also contributes to energy savings.
The "Selectable Pressure Level" and "ECO-Actuation" Apps allow air consumption to be tailored to specific requirements. The digitally selectable pressure level allows pneumatic force to be limited to the level required for the application. ECO-Actuation reduces compressed air consumption to the minimum required, provided that no pressure or holding forces are needed in the final position.
Instead of a valve, a pressure regulator and a pressure sensor, i.e., three components, only one technology and one valve are needed.
