Electric cylinders and slides

As part of the electric cylinders series from Festo, you can use a linear drive with piston rod to generate force and speed in order to perfectly execute various work processes in your system. In addition, our compact electric slides are designed for a variety of uses in different application areas. Our product portfolio contains a wide selection of different electric cylinders and mini slides.

You can find more products here: Electric drives

Definition of an electric cylinder

An electric cylinder is an actuator that, with the help of a servo motor or stepper motor, performs a linear movement. It consists of a ball screw and a piston rod, which is extended and retracted and generates the linear movement, similar to a pneumatic cylinder. Electric cylinders can be used in a wide range of applications, for instance in assembly technology, packaging technology and factory automation as well as in robotics and transporting materials.

Difference: electric cylinders and pneumatic cylinders

Unlike pneumatic cylinders, which use compressed air, electric cylinders use electric motors to generate linear motion. Electric cylinders, also known as electric actuators, are usually more precise and offer better control of movement than pneumatic cylinders. Electric cylinders also have the advantage of being quieter than pneumatic cylinders. Pneumatic cylinders use compressed air to create a movement and in doing so they can produce a hissing sound when the air is released. Electric cylinders, on the other hand, generate motion almost silently with the help of electricity.

Application areas for electric cylinders

Electric cylinders can be widely used in many different industries, such as assembly technology, packaging technology and factory automation as well as in robotics and material transport. In robotics or handling technology, the drive can be used to move, align and manipulate objects. In factory automation, the linear drive can be used to automate tasks such as assembly and packaging (for example, a part can be placed in the correct position for assembly or a product can be picked up and placed in a packaging container). However, in material handling, actuator technology can be used to move and position objects in warehouses and other environments (for instance, to move a pallet of goods from one place to another or to adjust the height of a conveyor belt).

Definition of electric slide

Electric slides are devices that convert the rotary motion of the servo motor or stepper motor into a linear motion. The electromechanical solution consists of a motor, a spindle or ball screw and a slide that moves along the guide. Linear slides are often used in applications that require precise and controlled linear motion, for example in handling technology or robotics, machine tools or factory automation, assembly technology or the packaging industry.