Moving coil actuators selected for switch test applications

Electric Actuators from SMAC are proving to be excellent for OEMs and component manufacturers in a variety of 'switch test' applications. So far the company has provided actuators to 100 per cent test a variety of switch applications, including: car stereo control panels and volume control knobs, car horn buttons, car door handles, wing mirrors, glove box compartments, seat belt buckles, and boot latches - to name but a few.

SMAC says its actuators are becoming the de facto standard for switch test applications among a number of large component suppliers to the global automotive industry. This is due to the ability to provide a relatively low cost 'off the shelf' system that can be easily customised to provide force and position feedback in a single, integrated unit.

Furthermore, precise plots can be obtained for force versus position, and hysteresis and switch differential can be verified. Importantly, the SMAC actuators perform both life testing and qualitative testing at the same time, and the actuators can replicate the feel and touch of human fingers more accurately and precisely than humans.

Using SMAC actuators enables 100 per cent data collection for SPC and quality inspection systems in order to comply with ISO/TS16949 standards.

Prior to the introduction of the SMAC electric actuators, a variety of standard pneumatic devices, ball screws and unreliable load cells we typically used for switch test applications. Such systems are both difficult and expensive to build and maintain. However, the SMAC switch test system is provided in a single, compact unit for easy installation and maintenance. It is easily programmed via an NI LabVIEW program module.