RETHINKING EMAS: ADDRESSING THE LIMITATIONS OF SCREW-DRIVEN ACTUATORS

As industries require greater precision, uptime, and efficiency, many engineers are considering Servo Hybrid Actuators (SHAs) as an alternative. SHAs address common limitations of EMAs while offering long-lasting performance across many applications, including low force.

1. MAINTENANCE AND WEAR OVER TIME

EMAs depend on mechanical components such as screws, bearings, and belts. These parts naturally wear through metal-to-metal contact, which can introduce backlash and eventually lead to failure. Regular lubrication and replacement schedules add to the maintenance burden and further highlight the need for a replacement for ball screw actuators that avoids these wear points.

Hybrid linear actuators have a totally sealed, self-contained, compact design. This means no lubrication schedules, no worn screws to replace, and overall, less actuator maintenance.

2. STROKE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRAINTS

Electro-mechanical screw actuators are often restricted by stroke length and ingress protection (IP) ratings, limiting their use in demanding or variable environments. This makes them less adaptable when applications require long strokes or harsh conditions.

Hybrid actuators remove these limitations, offering longer stroke lengths, robust sealing for harsh environments, and longer-lasting performance without the predictable failures of screw-driven designs—another clear benefit for teams seeking a dependable replacement for ball screw actuators.

3. SHOCK LOAD TOLERANCE

EMAs rely on screws and other mechanical components, which can transfer sudden forces directly through the actuator. When an unexpected load or impact occurs, this can generate shock loads that stress components, cause positioning errors, accelerate wear, or cause immediate failure.

Hybrid linear actuators use servo-controlled motion and a hybrid design that can absorb shock loads. This ensures consistent operation even in applications where forces spike suddenly, reducing the risk of mechanical damage or degradation over time. Making them a resilient replacement for ball screw actuators in environments with unpredictable load profiles.

4. SCALABLE ACROSS FORCE RANGES

One of the biggest drawbacks of EMAs is that their lifespan is directly load-dependent. If undersized, the actuator wears out quickly, leading to premature failures. If oversized to extend life, costs rise significantly. This tradeoff makes sizing EMAs both critical and potentially expensive.

With hybrid linear actuators, you get a single scalable platform that can be optimized across both low and high-force applications. That means no tradeoffs, less re-engineering, and more value over the lifetime of the system—another reason they’re increasingly selected as a practical replacement for ball screw actuators in new designs and retrofits.

5. THE HIDDEN COSTS OF EMA REPAIRS

When EMAs fail, the repair process isn’t just costly, it’s slow. Specialized screw replacements, re-machining, and service often come with long lead times and high repair costs. These delays can cripple production and inflate operating budgets.

SHAs avoid these pitfalls with a sealed, robust design that requires little intervention and delivers reliable performance, keeping both downtime and lifecycle costs to a minimum.

THE SMARTER CHOICE FOR LOW-FORCE APPLICATIONS

EMAs aren’t the only option for low-force motion. If you’re looking for precision, efficiency, and reliability without constant replacements, Kyntronics’ Hybrid Linear Actuators provide a better path forward—and are quickly becoming the preferred replacement for ball screw actuators across multiple industries.