IOT WIFI CONTROL - NEW PRODUCT RELEASE!
Posted by on 7/30/2018
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?
How To Use An External Limit Switch Kit With A Linear Actuator
Posted by on 5/31/2018
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.
High Speed Linear Actuators
Posted by on 5/28/2018
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.
How To Control A Linear Servo Using A DMX Stage Lighting and Special Effects System
Posted by on 3/13/2018
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.
How To Control A Linear Servo With Your Phone Via Bluetooth
Posted by Mike Greig on 2/21/2018
We use our phones for much of what we do these days, but did you know that you can control a linear servo with your cell phone? There are dozens of different ways to control linear actuators. From simple switches to more complex PLCs, RC control and arduino - no matter what you're trying to build, there's a control type to suit your needs.
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Electric vs. Pneumatic Actuators
Posted by on 1/25/2018
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.
How To Change An Actuator Rod End-Tip
Posted by on 1/18/2018
No matter how much we expand our product offering, it's impossible to have the exact solution for every single application. Every now and then our customers contact us asking about ways that they can modify their device to better suit their needs.
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How To Use Relays To Control Linear Actuators
Posted by on 12/6/2017
In this post I'm going to go over how to use a relay to control the motion of a linear actuator. I'll cover not only how to use a relay to control your actuator, but also some situations where you might want to. We offer a simple relay kit in our store that is designed to work with electric micro linear actuators.
Feedback Actuators
Posted by on 11/9/2017
We understand that it can be a little complicated to distinguish between actuators. There are position feedback actuators, limit switched actuators, internally controlled actuators, RC actuators, and that's just the micro stuff. When you move into larger actuators there's a whole different host of options and styles for you to choose from.
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How To Use A Linear Actuator Control Board With Arduino
Posted by on 10/31/2017
Over the past few years, our support department has been receiving more and more questions about how to use a linear actuator with Arduino. We have never officially offered Arduino support. We have a couple of resources on our website and we've directed many people to Robot Geek and a couple of other Arduino pros.
Opening And Closing Windows With Linear Actuators
Posted by on 10/17/2017
It's becoming a fairly popular project to automate household windows. Using linear actuators is the most cost-effective and simple way to achieve this.
2017 FRC Team Sponsorship Winners
Posted by on 10/13/2017
The time has come to announce the winners of our 2017 FRC team sponsorships! In early 2017, we started looking for new ways to actively support young engineers and robotics enthusiasts. This lead to the creation of two brand new programs - our Scholarship Program and Our FRC Sponsorship Program.
Using Linear Actuators For Realistic Animatronics
Posted by on 9/29/2017
Building animatronic displays was once solely the domain of professionals in movies and television. These day, there are hobbyists and professionals all over the world working with animatronics. Motion-enabled elements can be found in Halloween and Christmas displays, museums, and of course, just for fun. It's an art that has come a long way in the last couple of decades.
Rod vs Rodless Actuators
Posted by on 9/18/2017
Rod and Track (rodless) actuators ultimately perform the same function - they move loads back and forth. Depending on your application however, there can be significant advantages to either rod or track actuators in your design.
Linear Actuators and IP Ratings
Posted by on 9/7/2017
When selecting a linear actuator for a project, there are many different things to consider. Stroke, speed, physical dimensions and force requirements are the most common, but there are other things that you may need to account for when choosing an actuator to include in your design.
2017 Engineering Scholarship Winners
Posted by on 8/15/2017
Earlier this year, we launched a scholarship program for engineering students. Our aim was to give back to the engineering community by supporting talented young engineers who had trouble meeting their financial needs for school.
How To Prevent Actuator Side Load Failure
Posted by on 8/8/2017
Let's talk about side loads (also called overhung loads) for a minute. A side load is any load that is exerted perpendicular to the direction of a linear actuator's travel.
Can I Modify My Actuator?
Posted by on 8/4/2017
For some customers, a stock unit will not do the trick. Integrating our products into your designs can take some level of customization.
Quiet Linear Actuators
Posted by Mike Greig on 7/21/2017
For many applications, linear actuators must not only be small and discreet, but also quiet. A quiet linear actuator is important in places such as medical facilities where increased noise could distract a healthcare worker or patient, or in product applications where too much sound could distract from the intended function of the product.
Choosing The Correct Actuator For Your Application
Posted by on 7/18/2017
If you're looking for a micro linear actuator to suit your application you may have found the options a little overwhelming. Under the Actuonix brand, there are 6 unique micro actuator lines. These lines feature strokes ranging from 10mm through to 300mm, forces between 2-67lbs and five different control options.
Micro Linear Actuators from Actuonix vs. Other Manufacturers
Posted by on 6/27/2017
Actuonix has been manufacturing micro linear actuators since 2004. When we say 'manufacturing', we mean that we design our products in-house. Our team of engineers designs every one of our actuators from scratch, right here in Canada.
Tips For Extending The Life Of Your Linear Actuator
Posted by on 6/20/2017
It's easy to get a long service life out of your micro linear actuators. Actuonix devices are built to last and each unit is tested before it leaves our facility. That said, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind to get the most possible life from your linear actuators.
Linear Actuators For The Medical Industry
Posted by on 6/19/2017
Micro linear actuators can be found throughout the healthcare industry. You often can not see them in the devices that help keep us healthy but they're discreetly performing critical functions behind the scenes. Medical applications range from simple tasks to more sophisticated, challenging applications that require more precise movement and greater force.
Micro Linear Actuators In Prosthetics
Posted by on 6/15/2017
As a manufacturer of electric micro linear actuators, one of the industries that we're most excited to be directly involved with is the production of prosthetics. In recent years, we have had the privilege of working with several companies that manufacture prosthetics.
How To Adjust Linear Actuator Speed
Posted by on 6/2/2017
It can still be difficult however to find a device that suits your specific needs. In a previous post we covered how to adjust linear actuator end limits. Today I'm going to show you four ways that you can adjust the speed of a linear actuator. Depending on your needs, skills and budget, you have some options.