SMAC
SMAC was founded in 1990 in Carlsbad, California, USA with the target of developing devices that would automate work done by hands and fingers. By combining this capability with competitive prices, SMAC believes it can eventually replace older technologies such as pneumatic cylinders and electric ball screw actuators.
SMAC now manufactures a wide range of precision programmable electric actuators based on its patented moving coil technology. These proprietary and patented moving coil linear motor based designs are technically far ahead of old generation pneumatic and other electric actuators, including moving magnet linear motors. Our technological edge, combined with continuous cost-down/quality-up process and its worldwide sales basis makes SMAC the most dynamic electric actuator manufacturer in the world today.
SMAC electric actuators are unique in that force, position, and speed are totally programmable. They are designed to perform at exceptionally high speeds or very low speeds and with sub-micron accuracy and validatable repeatability with as precise as 1 ms response time. This makes them ideal for a wide range of positioning, measuring, inspection, and pick and place applications, particularly where 100% verification is required.
SMAC electric actuators are much more sophisticated than the simple devices such as solenoids or air cylinders. The variables involved in the work are programmable. So force, distance, and speed all can be varied as needed. The devices also have built-in feedback sensing that can report if the desired work was accomplished or not. The devices have the ability to find surfaces without disturbing them, i.e., "Soft-Land™ capability." This makes them "Mechatronic Actuators.
SMAC determined early in its development that there were key technologies it must control to be successful. These include designing and manufacturing high torque brushless DC motors and optical encoders. In 2008, SMAC began an in-house capability to design and produce incremental optical encoders. That effort led to the establishment of SMAC Electronics Manufacturing Center in New Hampshire. The group includes engineers and technicians with more than 35 years of experience designing and building encoder products.
