Determining Actuator Requirements from Specification

Performance specifications are often written at the system level, and engineers must interpret component-level requirements from those descriptions. Requirements for components can also change as design decisions are made. In this example, requirements for a hydraulic actuator in a scissor lift are determined using simulation. The specification for the speed at which the platform is raised and lowered is converted to the force requirement for the actuator. Simulation is used to explore how the force requirement changes as the actuator attachment point is adjusted.