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When searching for ‘World’s Smallest Linear Actuator’ one thing quickly becomes apparent - many companies are claiming to produce the smallest actuator around. There may be a variety of reasons for this. I’ll quickly cover a few of these below.

As you likely know, linear actuators are devices that convert the rotary motion of an electric motion into linear motion. With the rise of robotics and automation, linear actuators have become an important component in a variety applications

Choosing the right actuator for your product can be a challenge. Today, I want to clear up one of the main distinctions between different types of actuators.

There are many ways to control linear actuators. One of the most popular is via a DPDT (double pole, double throw) switch. DPDT switches are a simple way to control an actuator for a variety of applications.

What is a stepper motor actuator? You're likely familiar with linear actuators, which use a rotary motor to produce motion in a straight line. Standard actuators are powered by a brushed DC motor. A stepper motor actuator is functionally similar to a standard linear actuator, but the drive motor, rather than a standard DC motor, is a stepper-style motor.

At Actuonix, we pride ourselves on offering the widest variety of affordable micro actuators available anywhere. Our actuators drive the motion element of some fascinating and useful products. We regularly add new products to our lineup as the needs of our customers evolve.

Though we carry more micro-linear motion products than anybody, there are times when our customers have a stroke-length requirement that can't be met with an off the shelf product. While some larger actuators come with adjustable end limit switches, this isn't practical on micro actuators.

The automotive industry is both growing and rapidly changing. Manufacturers and hobbyists alike are always on the hunt for new ways to automate functions while keeping development costs low.

At Actuonix, we take pride in producing inexpensive linear actuators that are built to a high standard of quality. Our low-cost line of micro linear actuators is the result of years of product development and incremental improvement.

If you're new to linear actuators, you might not realize that there are many different options for linear actuator control. Long gone are the days where all you could get was a simple 2-wire device that operates via reversing polarity. Those are still available of course but manufacturers are offering a variety of different input modes to cater to hobbyists, arduino enthusiasts as well as the technical needs of equipment manufacturers.

Below you will find ten different options for controlling linear actuators. 

The leader in micro motion since 2005.

Selecting a linear actuator manufacturer can be a critical part of the product design process. Building a relationship with a high-quality manufacturer that you can rely on can save you major headaches down the road.

If you're searching for a linear motion solution for the first time, you might find yourself a little bit confused that there are several different terms used to describe what appear to be identical products: linear actuator, servo actuator, linear servo and several others.

When it comes to home automation, there are more options available to you today than ever. From smart light bulbs to smart thermostats, camera systems, televisions, and smart appliances, there are a ton of options for you to consider when looking for ways to add automation to your home.

Do you need a custom linear actuator for your next product or project? Actuonix Motion Devices can help. We pride ourselves on manufacturing the largest selection of affordable micro actuators available. Even still, we regularly get requests from customers who require a custom actuation solution that is outside of our regular range of products.

For years, Actuonix has been providing affordable motion solutions to OEM designers, inventors, builders and hobbyists of all types. We’re proud that our products have been the backbone of some truly amazing projects. From animatronics, RC construction and 3D displays to complex medical devices, prosthetics and automotive applications, our actuators have served a wide range of clients. They’ve even been to space!

Linear actuators are much more common than many people realize. In fact, many motion-enabled products these days contain linear actuators. From consumer products to robotics, automotive and aviation, we’re surrounded by actuators all the time.

Actuonix Motion Devices is proud to announce the winners of our 2018 FIRST Robotics Sponsorship Program. Dozens of teams from across North America entered to win one of five product or financial awards.

Internet of things or IOT has finally hit the mainstream.  While home automation is still fragmented into many different standards and systems, Google and Amazon have brought simple and inexpensive WiFi home automation speakers to market, and services like IFTTT.com and Samsung Smartthings are making interfacing between standards much simpler.  So the question is, how do we make our projects move?

Linear actuators come in many different stroke lengths to suit a variety of needs. That said, you may find yourself needing to customize your linear actuator by reducing the stroke. Usually, the simplest and fastest way to achieve this is by installing a linear actuator limit switch kit.

Looking for a high speed miniature linear actuator for your next project or product? Look no further than our P16 and T16 lines. These devices are commonly used in applications that require a balance of speed and force.

There are dozens of different ways to drive servos and linear servos. We semi-regularly hear about systems that we're not familiar with. Recently, we had a customer inquire about whether or not our linear servos work with a DMX Stage Lighting system. We'd never been asked that before, so we did some research.

When it comes to designing a motion-enabled machine, engineers often have to decide between different types of actuators. Two of the most common actuators available are Electric and Pneumatic.