Differences in the application of buffers and limiters

Differences in the application of buffers and limiters
Buffer and limiter have distinct differences in practical application scenarios due to their different functional characteristics.
Buffer is widely used in the field of transportation. In the suspension system of a car, the buffer plays a crucial role. During the driving process of a car, the undulations and bumps on the road surface will generate frequent impact forces on the body of the car. The buffer in the suspension system is usually composed of springs and shock absorbers, which can effectively alleviate these impact forces. Springs are responsible for initially absorbing energy, converting kinetic energy into elastic potential energy, while shock absorbers slowly release energy through damping, reducing the amplitude of vehicle vibrations. This not only improves the comfort of riding, but also protects the chassis, tires, and other components of the car, extending their service life.
In the logistics and warehousing industry, buffers also play an important role. For example, in an automatic sorting system, goods move quickly on a conveyor belt and need to be accurately docked when they reach a designated location. At this point, the buffer installed at the sorting port can smoothly absorb the kinetic energy of the goods, allowing them to gently stop at the designated location and avoid damage due to collisions. Moreover, this buffering mechanism can also reduce noise and vibration during device operation, improving the stability and reliability of the entire system.
In contrast, limiters have a wide range of applications in industrial production equipment. In CNC machine tools, limiters are used to limit the range of motion of each coordinate axis of the machine tool. The cutting tools of the machine tool need to move precisely during the machining process. If they exceed the set range, it will not only cause a decrease in machining accuracy, but also damage the cutting tools and workpieces, and even lead to safety accidents. By installing a limiter, when the coordinate axis moves close to the limit position, the limiter will send a signal to stop the machine or change the direction of motion, ensuring the safety and accuracy of the machining process.
In the field of construction, limiters are installed on the lifting arm and tower body of tower cranes. The limiter of the crane arm can prevent excessive extension or retraction of the crane arm, avoiding tipping of the crane due to imbalance of the crane arm. The limiter on the tower body is used to control the rotation angle of the crane, preventing excessive rotation from causing structural damage. These limiters are like the “safety guards” of the crane, constantly monitoring the movement status of the crane to ensure construction safety.
In addition, limiters are also indispensable in some lifting equipment, such as elevators and high-altitude work platforms. The upper and lower limiters of the elevator can prevent the elevator car from crashing or squatting, ensuring the safety of passengers’ lives. The limiter of the high-altitude work platform can limit the lifting height and rotation angle of the platform, ensuring that operators work within a safe range.
In short, buffers are more commonly used in scenarios that require mitigating impact forces and improving operational stability; And limiters are mainly used in scenarios where there are strict restrictions on the movement position of equipment to ensure safety and accuracy.