Linear Actuators
IntelLiDrives, Inc. manufactures a large selection of linear actuators that utilize direct drive brushless linear servomotors, linear stepper motors as well as precison ball screw actuators driven with brush, brushless or rotary stepper motors. Travels for these linear actuators range from 5 mm to 5 meters. These stages are utilized in industrial robots, fiberoptics and photonics, vision systems, machine tools, assembly, semiconductor equipment, medical component manufacturing, electronic manufacturing, and other industrial automation applications. Please browse our linear actuators below. Linear actuators are also available in XY, XZ and XYZ configurations
Screw Driven Linear Actuators
Screw-driven linear positioning stages offer superior positioning performance in a compact, low profile unit. Offered in Automation Series with ball screws for high speed dymanics and Miniature Series with micrometer grade lead screws for ultra fine positioning performance. Driven with stepper or brushless servo motor
Belt Driven Linear Actuators
Belt drive linear positioners are designed to rapidly shuttle payloads to multiple locations. These economical linear actuators achive 3 m/sec speeds with 100 microns repeatability. In extruded aluminum housing driven with stepper or brushless servo motor with optional gear box
Linear Servo Motor Actuators
Linear Servo Motor linear actuator is pre-engineered, easily mounted, plug-and-play, ready-to-run modules that combine direct drive linear motor technology to provide 3G acceleration, 5m/sec velocity and sub-micron repeatable positioning. They combines linear motor with precision linear encoder and bearing support system
High Frequency Linear Actuators
Linear actuators with direct drive linear brushless servo motors offer high rigidity and high acceleration capabilities, The motor has very low electrical time constant and zero hysteresis. These actuators developed for the high-frequency motion of short strokes.
Compact Linear Actuators
Precision actuators with ball screws and leadc screws provide exceptional accuracy, repeatability and ultra-fine positioning resolution capability to 0.1 micron in a very compact, low profile unit. They are ideal for space-critical applications
Moving Shaft Linear Actuators
Moving Shaft Actuators are direct drive linear servo motors or motorized screws actuators with moving center shaft. These actuators have short working stroke 5 to 200 mm with high resolution and allow user precision positioning and force controls.
IntelLiGent Actuators
INTELLIGENT ACTUATORS are highly programmable, integrated actuators with a motor, encoder, amplifier, controller, USB, Ethernet, RS232, RS485 communication, and IOs.
Linear Actuators
IntelLiDrives® linear actuators provide precise, repeatable linear motion for automation, robotics, and positioning systems. Our portfolio includes ball-screw and lead-screw stages, belt-driven actuators, direct-drive linear servo motor modules, high-frequency short-stroke actuators, compact micro-positioning units, moving-shaft actuators, and IntelLiGent® integrated smart actuators.
With stroke lengths from 1 mm to 5,000 mm, speeds up to 5 m/s, and repeatability down to sub-micron levels, IntelLiDrives linear actuators are engineered for demanding applications in semiconductor manufacturing, photonics, medical devices, inspection, packaging, and industrial automation.
What is a Linear Actuator?
A linear actuator converts rotary or electromagnetic energy into controlled linear motion. In motion-control systems, linear actuators are used to position loads, perform pick-and-place operations, execute precision assembly, and provide accurate, repeatable movement along a single axis. IntelLiDrives offers multiple actuator technologies so you can match speed, precision, stroke length, and force to your application requirements.
Types of IntelLiDrives Linear Actuators
Screw-Driven Linear Actuators
Screw-driven linear actuators use ball screws or lead screws to convert rotary motion into precise linear travel. They offer high stiffness, excellent repeatability, and strong thrust capabilities in a compact footprint.
- Ball-screw actuators: High-speed, high-thrust stages for assembly automation, metrology, and industrial positioning.
- Lead-screw actuators: Ultra-fine resolution and smooth motion for micro-positioning, photonics, and lab automation.
- Typical features: Stepper or servo motor options, rigid aluminum or steel construction, integrated guides and encoders.
Belt-Driven Linear Actuators
Belt-driven linear actuators are designed for long-travel, high-speed shuttling and transfer applications. They provide fast motion over extended strokes with moderate precision.
- Speed: Up to 3 m/s for rapid indexing and material transfer.
- Stroke: Travel lengths up to 5,000 mm.
- Applications: Packaging, material handling, pick-and-place, multi-station transfer systems.
Linear Servo Motor Actuators (Direct Drive)
Direct-drive linear servo motor actuators deliver maximum dynamic performance with zero mechanical backlash. A brushless linear motor drives the load directly, eliminating screws, belts, and gear trains.
- Performance: Speeds up to 5 m/s, accelerations to 3 G, sub-micron repeatability.
- Construction: Integrated linear motor, precision encoder, and low-friction bearing system.
- Applications: Semiconductor wafer handling, photonics alignment, high-speed scanning and inspection.
High-Frequency Linear Actuators
High-frequency linear actuators are optimized for short-stroke, high-bandwidth motion. They use high-response linear motors and low-mass moving elements to achieve very high accelerations and fast settling times.
- Stroke: Very short travel for fine positioning and dynamic testing.
- Precision: Ultra-high resolution and repeatability.
- Applications: Optical focusing, vibration testing, high-speed scanning, dynamic simulation.
Compact Linear Actuators
Compact linear actuators provide ultra-fine resolution in a low-profile, space-saving design. They are ideal where footprint and integration space are limited.
- Resolution: Down to 0.1 µm.
- Drive: Miniature ball-screw or lead-screw mechanisms with micro motors.
- Applications: Micro-assembly, biomedical instrumentation, precision inspection, photonics.
Moving-Shaft Linear Actuators
Moving-shaft actuators feature a center-moving rod driven by a motorized screw or direct-drive linear motor. They are designed for applications requiring controlled force and compact linear motion.
- Stroke: Typical travel from 10 mm to 200 mm.
- Force: High force density for pressing, clamping, and dispensing.
- Applications: Pressing, dispensing, micro-machining, controlled-force automation tasks.
IntelLiGent® Integrated Linear Actuators
IntelLiGent® integrated actuators combine motor, encoder, drive, and controller into a single intelligent module. They simplify wiring and control architecture and are ideal for Industry 4.0 and smart automation systems.
- Interfaces: Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, USB, RS-485, REST APIs.
- Control: Built-in motion controller, I/O, and programmable profiles.
- Applications: Standalone smart axes, networked automation cells, IIoT-enabled motion systems.
Linear Actuator Technology Comparison
The table below summarizes key performance characteristics across IntelLiDrives linear actuator technologies, including precision, speed, stroke, force, and software compatibility.
| Actuator Type | Drive Mechanism | Precision & Repeatability | Velocity & Dynamics | Stroke Length | Max Force / Load Capacity | Compatible Software / APIs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball-Screw Linear Actuators | Ball screw + servo/stepper | ±5–20 µm | 0.5 – 1.5 m/s | 50 mm – 1500 mm | High thrust (up to 5000 N) | Modbus, CANopen, EtherCAT |
| Lead-Screw Linear Actuators | Lead screw + stepper | Sub-micron (< 1.0 µm) | 0.1 – 0.5 m/s | 10 mm – 300 mm | Moderate (up to 800 N) | Modbus, RS-485 |
| Belt-Driven Linear Actuators | Belt + servo/stepper | ±50–100 µm | Up to 3.0 m/s | 100 mm – 5000 mm | Moderate (up to 1200 N) | Modbus, CANopen, RS-485 |
| Linear Servo Motor (Direct Drive) | Direct-drive linear motor | Sub-micron (< 1.0 µm) | 3.0 – 5.0 m/s (3 G accel) | 10 mm – 2000 mm | Continuous force (up to 800 N) | Modbus, EtherCAT, C++ / Python |
| High-Frequency Linear Actuators | High-bandwidth linear motor | Ultra-high (< 0.5 µm) | Very high accel. (5–10 G) | 1 mm – 25 mm | Low–moderate (up to 300 N) | EtherCAT, LabVIEW, Python |
| Compact Linear Actuators | Miniature screw or micro-motor | 0.1 µm resolution | 0.05 – 0.3 m/s | 1 mm – 50 mm | Low (up to 100 N) | RS-485, USB, OEM SDK |
| Moving-Shaft Linear Actuators | Motorized screw or linear motor | High (±5–10 µm) | 0.2 – 1.0 m/s | 10 mm – 200 mm | High force density (up to 2500 N) | Modbus, CANopen |
| IntelLiGent® Integrated Actuators | Motor + encoder + drive + MCU | High (±5–20 µm) | 0.2 – 1.5 m/s | 25 mm – 1000 mm | Moderate (up to 1000 N) | Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, REST API |
How to Choose a Linear Actuator
- Precision: For sub-micron positioning, choose lead-screw or direct-drive linear motor actuators.
- Speed: For high-speed shuttling and long travel, select belt-driven actuators.
- Stroke length: For very long strokes, use belt-driven or ball-screw actuators; for short strokes, use compact or high-frequency actuators.
- Force: For high thrust or pressing applications, choose ball-screw or moving-shaft actuators.
- Integration: For plug-and-play smart axes, use IntelLiGent® integrated actuators with built-in control and network interfaces.
Applications
IntelLiDrives linear actuators are used worldwide in:
- Semiconductor and electronics manufacturing
- Robotics and automated assembly
- Photonics and optical alignment
- Medical device production and biomedical instrumentation
- Inspection, test, and measurement systems
- Packaging, material handling, and logistics automation
Request a Quote or Technical Support
IntelLiDrives® linear actuators are available as single-axis stages or integrated into XY, XZ, and XYZ multi-axis systems. Contact our engineering team for application support, CAD models, custom stroke lengths, and complete motion solutions.
Request a quote or contact technical support to discuss your linear motion requirements.