Linear actuators, rotary tables and XY tables for your motion automation task

Linear Actuator

As you view this website you may wonder to yourself what exactly is a linear actuator. A linear actuator is in itself a device that produces motion from a source of energy linearly. In laymen terms, you could say a linear actuator has the same purpose as a hydraulic arm, capable of lifting or moving objects at the flip of a switch or a button press of a remote. A linear actuator has many applications some of which are:

Home Automation: A linear actuator can be used to automate your home. By using a linear actuator you can create a television set that rises out of its enclosing, or by using a linear actuator you can create a projector that lowers out of the ceiling.

Automotive Automation: By using a linear actuator on your vehicle, you can automate such things as the hood of your car; using a linear actuator you can make your motorcycle have automated kickstands. The possibilities of using a linear actuator with automotive applications are limitless.

All this goes to show, a linear actuator can be very useful and can give whatever you want that futuristic automated feel.

Now that you know a few of the many ways you can use a linear actuator, but you may still be wondering, how exactly does a linear actuator work? What are the mechanics behind such a device?
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The picture to the right is a diagram on how a simple electrically run linear actuator works. In this example the electric motor spins a large threaded shaft, as the shaft rotates, the stationary threaded nut attached to the laterally moving sliding tube, slides up and down the shaft.

As another example take a simple nut and bolt (if you have one nearby) and stand the bolt pointing up on a flat surface. Keep the nut from spinning with your thumb and index finder on one hand, and with you other hand rotate the bolt. As you can see the nut rises and lowers depending on which way you turn it, and this is the concept of an electrically run linear actuator.

A linear actuator isn't only reliant on electricity, sometimes a linear actuator can be run by:

Hydraulics: A hydraulic linear actuator is usually run by one or more pistons that are pressurized and depressurized to make the linear actuator move up or down.

Gas: A gas powered linear actuator is run with the same principals as a electrically run linear actuator, except the motor is powered by gas instead of electricity.

There are many more variations of a linear actuator that can be used although of course electric linear actuators are most common.

A linear actuator can be used in almost any application and come in most any size or style, being capable of lifting a variety of weight groups. To purchase a linear actuator go to Intellidrives.