| When it comes to industrial ergonomic hoists, there | | | | end speed because it varies based on air pressure |
| are really only two types to consider; the intelligent | | | | and flow. If your plant air pressure is lower than 100 |
| lifting device and the air balancer. | | | | psi, not only will you not get a good high ends speed, |
| First off, most general industrial consumers don't | | | | but you will not get the full capacity out of the hoist |
| know the difference between an intelligent hoist and | | | | as well. |
| an air balancer. | | | | Special Features - |
| 1. An intelligent hoist is a PLC controlled, servo motor | | | | The special features on the intelligent hoist is where |
| driven hoist with encoder feedback. This hoist | | | | the money goes when comparing the two products. |
| typically has a load cell near the wire rope a which | | | | As the intelligent hoist is typically $7,500 and an air |
| sends feedback to the PLC giving the hoist | | | | balancer is typically around $2,500, this is where you |
| immediate response to the actions of the operator. | | | | have a decision to make. As the two features above |
| The load cell has the ability to give the hoist weight | | | | are somewhat similar, these hoists differ very much |
| readouts with some additional programmability | | | | when it comes to special features. |
| features as well. | | | | 1. The air balancer does not really have any special |
| 2. An air balancer is strictly an air powered hoist with | | | | features, and is limited by the ability to set up |
| no intelligent features at all. This hoist consists of an | | | | custom pneumatic controls. While you can make |
| air cylinder with a piston and a drum. The piston is | | | | these hoist a little more intelligent by adding these |
| drive by compressed air controlled via a pendant in | | | | custom control and pressure sensors, they are still |
| the operator's hand. The pendant has up/down | | | | subject to the variable of your plant air. So what you |
| controls which allow the operator to control the | | | | see is what you get, a fast hoist, with above |
| speed. Essentially, they are opening and closing a | | | | average precision at a lower cost. |
| valve. The harder you press the button, the further | | | | 2. The intelligent hoist is loaded with custom features |
| the valve opens, and the faster the hoist will move. | | | | that can make some lifting applications much easier |
| Lets break down these hoist based on three main | | | | to perform. The first feature would be float mode. |
| criteria; control, speed and special features. | | | | This allows an operator to press a button and make |
| Control - | | | | any load virtually weightless. You could handle up to a |
| The intelligent hoist and the air balancer both have | | | | 165 lb load with just your pinky finger. This is ideal |
| variable speed control, meaning that the hoist will | | | | when an operator is loading an expensive or |
| move at a speed according to operator input. So | | | | awkward part into a fixture. |
| while they are similar in their basic functionality, they | | | | The second feature that separates the unit is the |
| are very different when it comes to true precision. | | | | ability to set virtual limit. The intelligent hoist allows for |
| The intelligent hoist sends an immediate signal back | | | | an operator to set upper speed reduction points, |
| to the hoist control and motor giving instantaneous | | | | lower speed reduction points and upper and lower |
| feedback from operator input. This allows the hoist | | | | stop points. This allows the operator to utilize the |
| to accelerate and decelerate quickly, and stop on a | | | | speed of the hoist while not having to worry about |
| dime if need be. The control on the air balancer is | | | | product damage at the set down point. |
| much less precise, and the hoist will have a tendency | | | | The last feature would be the ability of the hoist to |
| to bounce when stopping due to the nature of the | | | | output information. The unit has digital outputs that |
| compressed air. | | | | allow the hoist to tie into an assembly line. These |
| Speed - | | | | outputs give the customer the ability to track weight |
| Both units have a very quick high end speed that is | | | | lifted, shut down a conveyor and select zones for |
| typically much faster than a typical air or electric | | | | lifting. Hence, if you can program it, the unit can |
| hoist. The intelligent hoist has speeds up to 275 fpm | | | | control it. |
| in the 150 lb capacity range, while the air balancer top | | | | So now you know the difference, and you can |
| end speed is typically in the 150 fpm range. | | | | decide what hoist is right for you. |
| Air balancers typically don't come with a posted top | | | | |