This seminar, one of two sponsored by Attica Hydraulic Exchange, offered a general background on basic operation, installation procedures, and service for servo valves and proportional valves. Presenter Randy Wildner discussed the most pumps available on the market, including Vickers, Moog, and Rexroth, and described the differences between the two types of valves — servos require low power of 1/10 W and perform above 200 Hz with flow rates to 100 gpm and provide mechanical feedback while proportional valves require about 48 W of power to drive them, have slower performance than servos, but greater flow rates to 350 gpm and offer electrical feedback.

A number of schematics showed the attendees the types of valves and their key components. Randy also reviewed key tips for installing and maintaining these valves, and critical things everyone should know when working with them (for instance, do not overtorque!) and more.