CARLSBAD, CA – SMAC Moving Coil Actuators has announced a new, no-cost RACE to Replace calculator GUI designed to simplify the process of replacing traditional air cylinders with high-performance electric actuators.

While pneumatic cylinders are widely used for simple two-position motion, engineers often face limitations in speed, repeatability, and wear-related failures. Despite the advantages of electric motion, the perceived complexity of setup and programming can slow adoption. SMAC’s new “RACE to Replace” (RACE: Replace Air Cylinder Easily) GUI addresses this by streamlining actuator selection and simplifying application setup.

A Practical Selection Tool for Two-Position Applications

The tool functions as a two-position application calculator, allowing engineers to evaluate suitability in minutes. By entering key parameters—such as stroke length, move time, load (mass), and surface friction – the system identifies appropriate SMAC Moving Coil Actuators for the application.

Rather than creating a custom program, the system is designed to work with a standard, universal program that is preloaded onto the actuator. Setup is then completed through a simple, menu-driven interface, significantly reducing commissioning time.

Performance Gains in the Field

Built on proven results in packaging and food processing applications, replacing air cylinders with SMAC’s linear servo motors has delivered measurable improvements:

• Energy Efficiency: Up to 80% reduction in energy consumption compared to pneumatic systems
• Throughput: Up to 2× faster operation
• Longevity: More than 10× increase in cycle life
• Precision: Repeatability improved from ±15 ms (pneumatic) to ±1 ms (electric)
• Protection: Controlled deceleration reduces end-of-stroke impact and machine wear

Simplified Implementation

RACE calculator GUI is designed to remove barriers to adoption by combining straightforward actuator selection with an easy-to-use setup approach. With a universal program already in place, users can quickly configure motion parameters through guided menus—eliminating the need for custom programming in most two-position applications.

Additional usability enhancements are under consideration, including improved access to controller menus and optional fault monitoring features such as I²T protection.