DISTRIBUTOR-FIRST SUPPLY PARTNER · SINCE 1999 Live · Pneumatic Automation System
SPC Company
Pneumatic Automation / Actuation / Rotary & Electric Actuators / Electric Actuator
Layer 04 · Actuation Industry Leader · SMC
01What it is

Electric Actuator

An electric actuator converts the rotation of an electric motor into precisely controlled linear or rotary mechanical motion. It does the same physical job as a pneumatic cylinder — push, pull, lift, press, slide, or rotate a load — but a motor turning a precision ball screw drives the motion instead of compressed air driving a piston. Because an encoder on the motor measures shaft position continuously, the controller always knows exactly where the actuator is. That is the defining difference: position is measured and controlled, not just commanded on and off. The core body style is the rod type — a rod extends and retracts exactly as a pneumatic cylinder's rod does, which makes it a footprint substitute for a cylinder on an axis that needs precision. Inside the rod, the motor turns a ball screw and the screw drives a nut, and the rod attached to that nut travels with it. The screw's lead — how far the rod travels per motor turn — sets a force-versus-speed trade-off: a small lead delivers high thrust and fine resolution, a large lead delivers higher speed. What this buys an application is the ability to stop accurately at any point along the stroke, store and recall many target positions, press to a programmed and repeatable force, and return to a position within hundredths of a millimeter — none of which a pneumatic cylinder can do, since a cylinder stops reliably only at full extend or full retract. The trade-off is upfront cost, the need for a separate controller and electrical engineering, and reduced suitability for washdown and hazardous environments. An electric actuator is the right choice when motion has to be exact rather than simply complete; for a straightforward on/off motion, a pneumatic cylinder remains the correct, lower-cost answer.

Compare tiers ↓ How to sell this ↓ Request a quote →
Real-world reference Representative electric actuator
Electric Actuator — representative product photo
02Why it's needed

Why this matters.

Tips and pointers on when an electric actuator earns its premium — and when pneumatic is still the right call. Scroll the strip →

01 · Key point
It knows where it is.

An encoder reads motor-shaft position continuously, so the controller stops the rod at any point along the stroke — not just full extend and full retract. Repeatability ±0.02 mm standard, ±0.01 mm on high-precision frames.

02 · Key point
It drops into the cylinder mount.

The Industry Leader tier rod-type matches typical ISO 15552 / NFPA mount geometry — usually a direct drop-in on an existing pneumatic axis. Swap valve + air lines for motor + encoder cables and the axis is now precision.

03 · Key point
Programmable force, not max pressure.

AC servo + ball-screw drive presses to a commanded force value, repeatable to ±1-3% of rated. Grippers handle delicate parts at low force and rigid parts at high force on the same cycle — pneumatic only grips at line pressure.

04 · Pro tip
Quote the controller on line two.

The controller is a required separate line item — most first-quote misses live here. Tiers: programless (panel-set), step-data (up to 64 PLC-callable positions), fieldbus (EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, PROFINET). Match to the controls design.

05 · Where not to use
Simple on/off motion.

If the axis just needs full extend / full retract, electric is price-and-complexity overkill. → Stay with a pneumatic cylinder — cheaper, simpler, no controller, no electrical engineering line.

06 · Where not to use
Washdown or hazardous-location duty.

Mid-range IP-rated electric exists, but full washdown and ATEX (explosion-proof) territory is narrow and expensive. → Keep the axis pneumatic — cylinders survive wet and classified environments long-term where electric doesn't.

07 · Where not to use
Vertical lift without a motor brake.

Servos draw current continuously to hold a vertical load against gravity — power-fail = load drops. → Spec the integrated motor brake option on every vertical-axis install with meaningful load weight. Many premature failures trace back to skipped brake spec.

03Key selection criteria

What we need to spec it right.

From the machine spec sheet → to the part number. Answer what you know — leave the rest blank — and send.

01 · Input
Verify the motion actually needs mid-stroke positioning, multiple stop positions, or programmable force. A simple on/off motion should stay pneumatic — quoting electric for binary extend/retract is a price-and-complexity miss.
Mid-stroke positioning · Multiple stored stops · Programmable force · ±0.05 mm or tighter repeatability
02 · Input
Rod type is the footprint substitute for a standard pneumatic cylinder (drop-in retrofit on ISO 15552 / NFPA mounts). Guide-rod type adds guide rods for side load; slider type replaces guided cylinders; miniature for compact precision; rotary table for angular positioning; gripper type for electric gripping.
Rod type · Guide-rod type · Slider type · Miniature type · Rotary table type · Gripper type
03 · Input
Vertical capacity is always lower — actuator continuously holds the load against gravity. Vertical-axis installs require a motor brake; load drops on power-fail without one.
Horizontal — light (≤5 kg) · Horizontal — medium (5-30 kg) · Horizontal — heavy (30+ kg) · Vertical (specify weight + add motor brake)
04 · Input
From the press, clamp, or lift calc with safety factor. Drives frame size and ball-screw lead — small lead = high thrust, fine resolution, slow; large lead = lower thrust, coarser, fast. Most production-rate apps pick mid-range lead.
Low (≤100 N) · Medium (100-500 N) · High (500-2000 N) · Heavy (2000+ N)
05 · Input
Measure application travel. Rod-type actuators cover ~500 mm mid-frame and ~800 mm on high-output sizes; for longer strokes, belt-drive slider types extend the range significantly.
≤100 mm · 100-300 mm · 300-500 mm · 500-800 mm · 800+ mm (belt-drive slider)
06 · Input
Cycle-time requirement and moves per minute. Continuous high-cycle = AC servo; intermittent point-to-point = stepper acceptable. Speed balances against thrust via ball-screw lead.
Intermittent, point-to-point · Moderate continuous · High-cycle continuous (production rate)
07 · Input
From the process or quality spec. If the customer says "precise" but means within 2-3 mm, that's pneumatic-with-positioner territory — re-qualify before quoting electric.
±0.05 mm (re-qualify) · ±0.02 mm (LE standard) · ±0.01 mm (high-precision frames)
08 · Input
Stepper for lower cost and simple point-to-point; AC servo for high performance, force control, and holding position under load. Absolute encoder skips the power-up homing move — specify where restart speed matters or homing would damage the application.
Stepper + incremental · Stepper + absolute · AC servo + incremental · AC servo + absolute
09 · Input
The controller is a required separate line item — most first-quote misses live here. Panel-set positions for simple setups; PLC-callable storage for many positions; fieldbus for plant-network integration.
Programless (panel-set) · Step-data (up to 64 PLC-callable positions) · Fieldbus — EtherNet/IP · Fieldbus — EtherCAT · Fieldbus — PROFINET
10 · Input
Washdown or hazardous-location duty generally keeps the axis pneumatic — electric components don't survive long-term wet exposure even at high IP ratings, and electric ATEX is narrow and expensive.
Indoor general (standard IP) · Dusty / oily (elevated IP) · Washdown (re-qualify — pneumatic likely) · Hazardous (re-qualify — pneumatic ATEX likely)
11 · Input
If this is a pneumatic-to-electric retrofit, pull the existing cylinder brand/model/mount from the nameplate. Rod-type electric actuators match typical ISO 15552 / NFPA mount geometry — usually a direct drop-in. Confirm before promising a no-bracket swap.
New build (no retrofit) · Retrofit — ISO 15552 · Retrofit — NFPA · Retrofit — other (provide nameplate)
12 · Input
Number of actuator + controller + cable kits for this configuration. Different size, body style, or controller tier? Add a separate quote line per variant — controllers and cables aren't always cross-frame interchangeable.
1 unit · 2-5 units · 6+ units (volume tier)

Need different sizes, colors, or quantities? Fill the form, add to quote, then fill again — each click is one quote line.

04Choose your solution tier  ·  core differentiator

Whatever your lever — spec, value, or price — SPC has the right brand.

Most distributors sell one brand per product type. SPC's 60-brand portfolio means every Product Type page surfaces three real options matched to how your customer is buying today. Pick the tier; the quote desk handles the cross-reference.

01 Industry Leader 1 brand
SMC
LE-series electric actuators — LEY / LEYG rod & guide-rod, LEF / LEFS slider, LEPY / LEPS miniature, LER rotary, LEH gripper; LECP / LECA / JXC controllers
View brand →
05How to sell this  ·  distributor talk track

The tier conversation closes the deal. The cross-reference catalog wins the next one.

Electric actuator is precision. Pneumatic cylinder is force. Does this motion need to be exact, or just complete? If exact, electric; if just complete, pneumatic. Most plants need both.
The SPC difference · how distributors actually buy

The 30-second positioning

Three customer shapes. (1) Replacing a pneumatic cylinder where precision became a requirement — the rod-type retrofit conversation: same mount, drop-in, add controller. (2) New machine with a precision axis — spec from scratch. (3) Pneumatic-to-electric conversion across a fleet for energy/noise/network reasons — ROI math drives it.

The structural conversation (6 pieces, longer than pneumatic): qualify the precision requirement (mid-stroke positions, programmable force, ±0.02 mm repeatability — if the answer is "just extend and retract," recommend pneumatic); capture work load + mounting orientation (vertical capacity always lower); capture required thrust force (drives frame size and ball-screw lead); capture stroke + speed (ball-screw lead trade-off); specify motor + encoder (stepper vs AC servo; incremental vs absolute); specify controller tier (programless / step-data / fieldbus — required separate line item, often forgotten at first quote).

Tier: Industry Leader tier for new electric work and pneumatic-to-electric retrofits — full body-style lineup (rod, guide-rod, slider, miniature, rotary table, gripper), full motor/encoder/controller matrix, OEM-default on most new precision-axis builds. Value-tier electric exists but quality variance on ball-screw precision and encoder accuracy is significant — for production-precision, stay Industry Leader tier.

Recurring revenue is different from pneumatic. Service life is longer on precision applications — ball screws and bearings have planned lubrication intervals but typical service life is 5,000-10,000 km of travel (many years). Recurring line is in periodic lubrication kits (OEM-spec grease on planned intervals — missed lubrication is the #1 preventable failure cause), controller upgrades, occasional motor/encoder replacement on heavy-cycle installs. Lower recurring per actuator than pneumatic, but per-machine attach rates are growing as more axes move to electric.

Customer cue → talk move

"Stop the cylinder at multiple positions, not just extend and retract"
Classic rod-type retrofit. Quote rod-type as footprint substitute (same mount as the existing pneumatic cylinder); add step-data controller for PLC-callable multi-position recall.
"Press to a controlled force, not just max air pressure"
Rod-type or guide-rod type with AC servo motor (better force control than stepper); program force value per cycle via the controller. Force repeatability ±1-3% of rated — tighter than any pneumatic regulator setting.
"Positioning to ±0.05 mm or better"
Electric mandatory; pneumatic can't deliver this consistently. Industry Leader tier ±0.02 mm typical, ±0.01 mm on high-precision frames. Verify the "precise" requirement is actually ±0.05 mm or better — sometimes "precise" means within 2-3 mm (pneumatic-with-positioner territory).
"Converting from pneumatic to electric for energy savings"
Energy math: pneumatic ~10-15% efficient at wall plug; electric 80%+. Per-actuator savings 60-80% on continuous-duty production. ROI payback 1-3 years on high-cycle axes.
"Quiet alternative to pneumatic"
Electric actuators are essentially silent (motor whine only); pneumatic generates exhaust noise on every cycle. Medical, food, R&D, office-adjacent installs — electric is the right call.
"Vertical-axis lift application"
Verify vertical capacity rating (always lower than horizontal). Add motor brake for fail-safe holding — motor draws current continuously to hold a vertical load; power-fail = load drops without brake. Industry Leader tier integrates the brake option on most frames. Many premature failures on vertical axes trace back to skipped brake spec.
"Network-controlled actuator (EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, PROFINET)"
Industry Leader tier with fieldbus controller. Specify the network protocol to match the customer's PLC standard.
"Washdown environment"
Pneumatic stays pneumatic. Electric IP-rated options exist but full washdown duty is pneumatic territory.
"Hazardous location"
Pneumatic stays pneumatic. Pneumatic ATEX cylinders are the more practical answer.
"Anxious about upfront cost of electric"
Lifetime cost math. Energy savings + reduced compressed-air load + reduced maintenance + reduced downtime often make electric cheaper over 3-5 years on high-cycle continuous-duty production. Quote both pneumatic and electric — let the customer see both numbers.
"Need a guided electric actuator for side-load applications"
Guide-rod type (rod + integrated guide rods) for moderate side load, belt-drive slider type (slider table with integrated linear guide) for heavier side load or long stroke. Both handle side load that would destroy a basic rod-type.
"Electric gripper instead of pneumatic gripper"
Electric gripper type with programmable position and grip force. Pneumatic grips at max pressure only; electric gripper grips delicate parts at low force and rigid parts at high force, programmed per cycle. Significant precision advantage on mixed-product handling.
Request a quote → Back to tier compare ↑
06Where it's used

Industries served.

Each industry below uses this product across the listed areas. Open an industry to see how it fits the rest of its system.

General Manufacturing General Manufacturing →

Also applies to Pneumatic-to-electric retrofits on legacy machines · The rod-type body style is the footprint substitute · Multi-position assembly fixtures · Programmable-force press operations · Precision positioning slides and stages · Electric grippers in robotic end-of-arm tooling · Energy-efficiency conversions on high-cycle production · Network-integrated motion control · Quiet-environment applications

09Install · 6 critical steps

The things that matter on the first install.

Step 01
Qualify precision and capture load + orientation
Mid-stroke positioning, multiple stops, programmable force, or ±0.05 mm repeatability? If yes, electric. If just full extend / full retract, recommend pneumatic — electric for simple on/off is a price-and-complexity miss. Capture work load and mounting orientation; vertical capacity is always lower, and vertical installs require a motor brake for fail-safe holding (load drops on power-fail without one).
Step 02
Calculate thrust + choose ball-screw lead + choose body style
Required pushing force from the application with safety factor. Small lead = high thrust, fine resolution, slow. Large lead = lower thrust, coarser, fast. Most production-rate applications pick mid-range lead. Body style: rod type (footprint substitute for standard cylinder), guide-rod type (side-load), slider type (substitute for guided slide), miniature type, rotary table type, gripper type.
Step 03
Specify motor + encoder
Stepper motor: 24 VDC, lower cost, simpler integration, adequate for point-to-point. AC servo motor: higher speed, acceleration, pushing force; holds position under load with active control — required for precision force control, high-cycle production, or vertical hold. Incremental encoder = lower cost, requires homing move on power-up. Absolute encoder = higher cost, knows position at power-up, no homing — specify for any application where restart speed matters or homing motion would damage the application.
Step 04
Specify the controller tier
Programless = panel-set positions, no PC, no PLC (simple manual setup). Step-data = PLC-callable storage, up to 64 positions each with position/speed/acceleration/force. Fieldbus = plant-network integration (EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, PROFINET). The controller is a separate required line item — always quote with the actuator. Most first-quote misses live here.
Step 05
Plan electrical integration before mechanical install
Install requires: 24 VDC power supply for steppers or AC servo power supply for servos, I/O wiring from controller to PLC, network cable if fieldbus, motor + encoder cables from actuator to controller. Plan cable routing, EMI (electromagnetic interference) shielding, and cable lengths up front. Electrical engineering for the install is a real labor line that pneumatic doesn't require — quote it.
Step 06
Document for service planning
Record actuator model, body style, ball-screw lead, motor type, encoder type, controller part number, brake option (if vertical), and cable lengths. Project service life at 5,000-10,000 km of travel; schedule lubrication at OEM intervals (typically every 1,000 km or 2,000 hours). Missed lubrication is the #1 preventable cause of electric actuator wear — plan PM on the calendar from day one.
10Troubleshoot · top failures

Most returns trace to one of these causes.

Symptom
Most likely cause
Fix
Electric actuator not reaching commanded position.
Load exceeds rated thrust (most common — sizing didn't account for actual load); motor stalled on over-current (hard mechanical stop or seized mechanism); encoder fault (controller doesn't know actual position); ball-screw or guide-rod binding from contamination or wear.
Recompute load including dynamic / friction / process loads. Upsize if undersized. Check for mechanical obstruction; if none, load is over rated thrust. For encoder fault, check cable and controller diagnostic — replace if damaged. For binding, inspect ball-screw and guide-rod, clean and re-lubricate per OEM spec.
Position repeatability has degraded over time.
Ball-screw wear (expected after thousands of km of travel); ball-screw bearing wear; encoder calibration drift (rare); or load profile changed (heavier load, faster acceleration, more cycles per minute than the actuator was sized for).
Replace ball-screw assembly (Industry Leader tier lines offer field service kits). For load-profile changes, recompute and possibly upsize. For encoder drift, recalibrate per OEM procedure or replace.
Motor running hot.
Duty cycle exceeds motor rating (continuous when intermittent is rated, or higher cycle rate than rated); elevated ambient temperature; inadequate cooling clearance; load exceeds rated thrust (motor drawing higher current than designed).
Verify duty cycle against rating — if exceeded, upsize or de-rate to spec. Improve ventilation. For load over-rated, upsize. Continuous high-temperature operation degrades motor windings and shortens service life dramatically.
Vertical-load application drops the load when power fails.
No motor brake installed. Electric servos draw current continuously to hold a vertical load against gravity; power-fail = load no longer held.
Add motor brake (integrated brake option available on Industry Leader tier frames) — engages automatically on power loss, holds the load mechanically. Mandatory on all vertical-axis electric actuators with significant load weight.
Controller communicates with PLC but actuator doesn't move.
Motor power supply not connected or failed (24 VDC or AC servo); motor cable damaged or disconnected; controller in fault state; PLC programming missing the move-command bit.
Check motor power supply first. Verify motor cable continuity. Reset controller per OEM procedure. Verify PLC program is actually commanding the move (not just communicating with the controller). For chronic communication-but-no-motion issues, work with the customer's electrical engineering on the integration.
Mechanical noise (clicking, grinding) from the actuator.
Ball-screw lubrication depleted (planned interval missed); ball-bearing wear in actuator body; debris in the ball-screw nut; debris in the linear guide rail on slider types.
Re-lubricate per OEM spec (use manufacturer-specified grease — substitutes degrade performance). If lubrication doesn't resolve, inspect for debris. For bearing wear, service-kit replacement on premium lines. Missed lubrication is the most common preventable cause of electric actuator failure — document the interval at install.

Get the right electric actuator on quote in 24 hours.

Send us the application — a specialist routes you to the correct tier with a configured part. Lead-times and pricing returned within one business day.

Request a quote →