Consisting of a rotary motor, a threaded lead screw and a precision nut, a linear actuator is a motion device that creates force and motion in a straight line. As the motor’s rotor spins, the linear actuator converts the motor’s rotation into linear motion by moving the nut in a straight line. The straight-line movement provided by linear actuators can be used to lift, drop, slide, adjust, tilt, push or pull objects with the simple push of a button.
What Do Linear Actuators Do?
Linear actuators move patients through MRI machines and CT scanners. They also open automatic doors, adjust car seats, and they provide the back-and-forth movement for tens-of-thousands of items that people use every day, in numerous industries including healthcare, robotics, manufacturing, automotive, semiconductor, home automation and many others.
The primary reason for designing a linear actuator into a system is to address the need to accurately move a payload in a linear fashion, rather than a rotary one. The operation of a linear actuator is simple. A lead screw translates the clockwise and counterclockwise rotary force (torque) of the motor into back-and-forth linear motion for a nut traveling along the length of the screw.
The performance, capacity, speed, force and precision of linear actuators is dependent upon a wide range of configuration aspects – including the size of the motor, the diameter of the lead screw, and any other accessories, such as sensing encoders.
How should Designers Choose a Linear Actuator for their Application?
In order to correctly size a linear actuator, the following variables must be considered:
1. How much linear force is needed to move the load?
2. What is the linear distance that the load must travel?
3. How much time is required to execute the movement?
Below are the Main Reasons why Designers Choose HKP Linear Actuators for their Compact Motion Solutions:
1. Accuracy & Repeatability – HKP actuators are known for their ability to precisely achieve a commanded position, as well as their ability to return to a predetermined position with unprecedented consistency.
2. Compact Design – HKP is a world leader in compact linear motion systems, and its hybrid stepper actuators are widely recognized to be the most compact designs available.
3. Durability – HKP linear actuators deliver up to 20 million cycles and require little to no maintenance.
4. Ultra-Quiet Operation – HKP has gained extensive experience working with customers in laboratory and medical environments, where quiet and smooth operation is paramount.
5. Safe operation – HKP motors have a safety factor of 2 or more. Safety is also a function of a sound mechanical design, that minimizes side loading, unbalanced loads and impact loads. Each system design should allow for effective heat dissipation. If these guidelines are followed, HKP linear actuators will provide safe operation over millions of cycles.
6. Load Capacity – refers to the ability to move and hold a load. When a linear actuator is in the dynamic mode, it is moving. When a linear actuator is in the static position, it is holding a load in a set position. HKP actuators rank exceedingly high in both categories for the size – making them a performance leader in this category.
7. Versatility – HKP has the exact size and style of linear actuator to solve your motion application, configurable and customizable to your needs.
Click here to download PDF version.