Adaptable servo-control system for force/position actuation

Abstract

An adaptable, servo-control system for force/position actuation generally includes an electric linear actuator and a controller. The controller interfaces with the electric linear actuator and with a number of I/O signals that are independent from the electric linear actuator. The controller interface to the independent I/O signals is transparent to the manner in which the I/O signals are produced. Rather the controller simply looks for the status of the I/O that is preferably received into the controller by hard-wiring or field bus I/O messaging such as from a industrial robot or programmable logic controller. The adaptable servo-control system is particularly suited to resistance weld systems wherein the electric linear actuator can replace the pneumatic actuator providing position and force actuation of the weld tip of the welding gun.

1 . An adaptable servo-control system for position and/or force actuation, comprising: 
 an electric linear actuator; and    a controller, wherein said controller interfaces with said electric linear actuator and with a plurality of I/O signals that are independent from said electric linear actuator, wherein the interface between said controller and said plurality of I/O signals is transparent to the manner in which said plurality of I/O signals are produced, wherein said controller utilizes said plurality of I/O signals to select a plurality of parameters to generate a motion profile for closed loop-controlled, position and/or force actuation of said electric linear actuator.