BEI Kimco Magnetics, a company of Custom Sensors &
Technologies (CST), Inc., recently met the challenging voice coil actuator requirements
for a high temperature spectrometer application. The device is used to identify
materials in a given sample based on its spectral lines and operates under
severe conditions.
Key to the customer’s product design specification was a voice
coil actuator that would deliver consistent and reliable performance while
operating in a harsh environment under extreme temperatures. In this
application, the voice coil actuator is used to move a mirror at high
frequency, causing the laser beam to dither. The actuator needed to perform at
an ambient temperature of 400º F.
To meet these challenges, BEI Kimco developed a voice coil
actuator within the Model LA13-12-000A package. The new design included special
Samarium Cobalt (SmCo) magnets and reinforced magnet wire insulation that could
withstand high ambient temperatures up to 400º F, a continuous stall force of
0.49 Lb. and a total stroke of 0.25 inches.
“In this example,
after going though different product interactions, we were able to meet some
very demanding customer requirements,” says Miguel Hermosillo, BEI Kimco’s
Applications Engineer/Project manager for voice coil actuators. “Our customers expect
the best designs possible, and we do our best to surpass their expectations. This
demonstrates how BEI Kimco really specializes in meeting unique customer needs.”