Information about Linear Actuators

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About Linear Actuators

Electric linear actuators provide linear motion via a motor-driven ball screw, lead screw, or acme screw assembly. The load is attached to the end of the screw and is unsupported. Acme screws are lead screws with matching threads on both the screw and nut. Ball screws are lead screw and ball nut combinations that enable the balls in the nut to circulate when the actuator is in motion. Electric linear actuators with belt drives, geared drives, and direct drives are also available. Belt drives connect the motor to the actuator with a belt. Geared drives connect the motor to the actuator with a set of gears. With direct drives, the motor is connected directly to the electric linear actuator. In terms of performance, important specifications include stroke, rated force or load, system backlash, and rated speed. Stroke is the maximum distance that the shaft travels from a fully extended position to a fully retracted position. Backlash is the position error due to directional change. The maximum rated speed is typically a low or no load amount.

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Air Cylinders

Air cylinders are pneumatic linear actuators that are driven by a pressure differential in the cylinder's chambers. They may be single-acting (with a spring return) or double-acting.

Hydraulic Cylinders

Hydraulic cylinders are actuation devices that utilize pressurized hydraulic fluid to produce linear motion and force.

Linear Thrusters

Linear thrusters use double-acting pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrohydraulic cylinders mated to plates and shafts to provide cyclical linear motion. They are used in conveying, positioning and inspection systems.

Rodless Cylinders

Rodless cylinders are linear devices that use pressurized fluid to move a load within many power transfer operations.

Engineering Web: Linear Actuators - Machine Design

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A Finer Control of Linear Motion \| For precise automated... For precise automated positioning, think stepper-motor-based linear actuators. For linear actuators a step translates to a speci fic linear distance.
Linear actuators get a servo look \| Machine Design Linear actuators get a servo look January 24, 2008 New actuators borrow ideas from linear motors to provide controlled displacement on a budget.
Introduction to Linear Actuators \| Machine Design Engineering managers Frank Morton and Ray LaChance explain linear actuators and how they are used to achieve precision linear motion.

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