How To

What force actuator should I buy? We get asked this question at least a few times a day. In today’s article, we will walk you through the process of calculating the force required by an electric linear actuator to lift the load in your application. There are a couple of factors involved when it comes to finding the right force, like the load, the angle at which it is being pushed and the size of the load. If you are pushing/pulling a load stra...

It is very important to pick the appropriate power supply for your electric linear actuator. You can have the perfect application design, the best actuator for your need, and flawless mounting setup, but without the right power supply, your system is not going to work at all. In this article, I will be going over a few important points on how to choose the right power supply for your linear actuator. Voltage Input The power input of the powe...

The PA-18 Track Linear Actuator is our largest fixed-length actuator and is commonly used in custom cabinetry, home automation, and robotics. Like many of our actuators, it can be controlled using our selection of Arduino control boards. This article will showcase how you can control the PA-18 with a simple setup that can be easily adapted to fit your application. Equipment 1x PA-18 Track Linear Actuator 1x Arduino Uno 1x MegaMoto Plus H-br...

Power. Wattage. Energy Consumption. All these terms can be used when discussing electric actuator power consumption. Electric linear actuators that are manufactured by Progressive Automations use DC motors. Depending on the force that the actuator can apply, the size of the DC motor will vary. The higher the force, the larger the DC motor. DC motors with a low current draw will typically be used in the actuator with a lower force rating – same...

When operating linear actuators, there are many specifications users need to understand - Speed, force, current draw, etc., but one element of the linear actuator specification can be tricky to gauge: The noise level. The users often won’t know for sure until they run the application with the linear actuators in them to realize the noise level is too high. It is possible to return your actuators and replace it with an actuator with a lower noi...

Adding connectors to wires helps with connectivity and allows for plug and play compatibility with electronic and electrical devices. This guide will provide an overview of adding and removing Molex connectors and housing to wires and the how-to process of doing so. Let’s begin by taking a look at the components that will be involved: Wires Molex Mini-Fit Jr. Female Power Connectors Molex Mini-Fit Jr. Male Power Connectors Molex Mini-Fit Jr. ...

A linear actuator is a versatile product that can be found anywhere. It is common to have multiple linear actuators operating in conjunction in a single application. It is great to be able to control multiple linear actuators at the same time, it is also very simple to do so with our linear actuators control system. In this article, we will take you through a few common setups for controlling multiple linear actuators at the same time. PA-30 d...

There may be cases when you want to move an object a longer distance than what the actuator's stroke length is. You can achieve this by using a telescoping actuator or you can use the physics of mechanical leveraging to your advantage. Common examples of this are the scissor lift or what our friend Mike Senna, the creator of the Wall-E Robot, did with his DIY Chicken Coop Automatic Door Opener. The physics behind these applications is using a ...

Electric linear actuators are used in many applications. Chances are, there are a few of them around you right now. As an important component in many products, some of the actuators will eventually fail. When that happens, it would save you a lot of money if you can find a replacement for the actuator instead of replacing the entire thing. In this article, we will give you a few tips on how to find a suitable replacement for your actuator. Typ...

"Why won't this work?" "What am I doing wrong" - We hear this a lot! Before you start modifying your actuator, which we have carefully designed and manufactured for you, take a few minutes and read our blog on how to configure an Actuator system. Selecting an Appropriate Actuator Progressive Automations provides a wide selection of actuators that are suitable for many industries. This means that we have tried to cater to as many different appl...

Electric connectors are used as a mechanical assembly to join electrical components together. They are widely used in electrical devices such as an electric linear actuator. It is common for users to install a new connector to wires or change connectors for an existing power cable. In this article, I will go over the tools needed, and the steps required to install a new connector for your linear actuator. Components and Tools Wire Connector t...

This tutorial will help in understanding the controls of a brushless DC motor controller when paired with an Arduino and a linear actuator. This program can be used to continuously extend and retract the stroke of an actuator. Before we get started, let’s go over the components we will be using in this tutorial: Arduino Mega (Arduino Uno can be used as well) LC-241 PA-14 with brushless motor PS-13-12 power supply Jumper Wires   Linear actuat...

If you require a quiet actuator for your application where noise pollution is a concern, the best way is to check out the noise rating along with verifying this value with a decibel chart. Decibels were named to honor Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone – the term refers to the intensity of a sound and is often referred to as dB for short. While many people are aware of what the term decibel means, not many can accurately say ...

Have you ever faced a situation where you must connect a high current actuator with a low current control box? Heavy duty actuators like the PA-17 and PA-13 have a significantly higher current draw than the average actuators and many control boxes are not designed to handle such high current. However, we can resolve this by using relays to bypass the current limit on control boxes. In this blog, we will help you with a safe way to use a standa...

You have recently purchased an actuator and are excited to get your application up and running. However, after wiring all the devices together, the actuator does not extend or retract? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. With this guide, we will help identify possible causes of error and troubleshooting techniques that will help you get your actuator working as intended. Operating an actuator, for the most part, should be easy and straightforward, ...

One of the most important steps in selecting a linear actuator is choosing the appropriate force rating. It is quite simple when the application requires a load to be lifted vertically, wherein the weight of the load being lifted is equal to the force required from the actuator. A more challenging scenario is if you have a hinge-type application, as commonly seen with lids, trapdoors, and windows. In this article, I will use a sample trapdoor...

Our FLTCON control box series are primarily used to operate our table lifts and lifting column sets. They can also be used as an actuator control box for certain actuator models, as long as they have a Hall Effect sensor and a 24VDC input. The control boxes utilize the Hall Effect sensor feedback, allowing the units to travel in sync as well as the ability to program and save multiple heights. The FLTCON series may benefit the user by keeping ...

Our records reveal that the number one cause for actuator failure is motor damage due to these two mistakes:  Obstructions in the actuator’s travel path Excessive loads for prolonged periods If you find your actuator lifeless despite repeated attempts to power it, you may want to bring your nose close to the motor for a quick sniff. A burnt smell is a common sign of motor damage. This smell is not similar to slightly burnt meat or a campfi...

The new high current DC Speed Controller (AC-26-30) increases the control capabilities for linear actuators in the entire Progressive Automations’ inventory. With a 30A current rating, and 12-48VDC voltage range, the AC-26-30 can control the speed for all of the Progressive Automations’ actuators from 0% to 100% speed. The on board control knob allows fine tune control and a secure “off” position. Four conveniently located screw terminals at ...

Electric Linear actuators are driven by either an AC or DC motor. This article will highlight the main differences between these two motor types in order to assist you in the selection of the correct linear actuator motor.  Electrical Definition AC and DC motors run on the same principle. Alternating magnetic fields caused by alternating current direction cause a shaft to rotate. The differences between these two current types determine the mo...

A Linear actuator is a common mechanical component in many industries. The applications which linear actuators are used in are very diverse and provide a variety of interesting automation possibilities. It is important to choose the right actuator for the job, but it also needs to be mounted correctly in the application for it to function properly. In this article, we will discuss a few common methods of mounting a linear actuator and what you...

The most recent addition to our line of TV automation products is the TY-05 Drop Down TV Lift. The unit is designed to be installed above the ceiling or against the wall. The lift is operated using a wireless remote and can raise your TV to hide it from plain sight and lower it when needed. In this article, we will discuss how to select the correct model for your application. For a full list of specifications, installation manuals and to orde...

Some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from our customers have to do with IP ratings. What is an IP rating? What does it mean? How does the rating system work? That is why we wrote this guide explaining just what exactly an IP Rating is. An International Protection Marking, also known as IP Rating/Code, is the rating of a product’s ability to withstand liquid and dust intrusion. Defined by IEC/EN 60529, the standard was develo...

Lead screws have been widely used to generate linear motion from a rotary motor. It can convert circular motion to linear motion by turning the screw with the nut fixed in place, or turning the nut while the screw remains in place. Today, we will look at two of the most popular screw types in the automation industry: ACME Screws and Ball Screws.   ACME Screw ACME screws use a trapezoidal shape thread to roll on to the lead screw. As the shaft...

There are two methods of multiple actuator control – parallel and synchronous. Parallel control outputs a constant voltage to each actuator, while synchronous control outputs variable voltage to each actuator. The process of synchronizing multiple actuators is necessary when implementing two or more actuators to move at the same speed.  This can be achieved with two forms of positional feedback– Hall Effect sensors and multiple turn potentiom...

Sitting for long periods of time is never a good idea; it can lead to many health issues including obesity, increased risk of cancer, shorter life spans and long term posture problems.  But for some it’s a part of their daily life, primarily those working a desk job that requires sitting at a computer all day. While it is recommended to take breaks and walk away (literally) from your work throughout the day, some people just don’t have the tim...

Solar power is one of the most accessible types of renewable energy and is rapidly increasing in efficiency and affordability. In this project, we will show you how we used our PA-14 Mini Linear Actuator to follow the sun through a single axis of motion. Doing this increases the power yield of the solar panel by up to 25% more than a fixed solar panel. In this article, we will show you how we put together our very own Portable Single-Axis S...

Brushed DC Motor A brushed DC motor is one of the simplest types of motors. It consists of a few main components which in conjunction with a DC power supply create a rotating motor. The armature, commutator, brushes, and field magnet configuration can be seen in Figure 1 below. Figure 1   The brushes charge the commutator which delivers current through the armature in the opposite polarity of the permanent magnet. This causes the armature ...

Learn how to determine the appropriate actuator for your application with some advice from one of our engineers. One of the great things about working at Progressive Automations is hearing from customers about how they plan to use our actuators. From home fixtures to industrial applications, the sky is the limit for automation. In order to realize your ideas for using our linear actuators, there are many parameters which must be determined ab...

This article is the first part of our “Linear Actuator Control" series. We will be discussing everything from the most basic control methods that utilize limit switches to accomplishing sequential control with the use of relays. In this first article we will cover how to limit a linear actuator’s extension and retraction stroke using the AC-24 external limit switch. All of the Progressive Automations linear actuators have built-in limit switc...

In this post, we will show you how to use the PA-35 Wi-Fi Control Box to control actuators that demand a large amount of current. Below is a video demonstration of the PA-17 Industrial Linear Actuator being controlled using a smartphone (click the link below to start the video). Wi-Fi Actuator Control The PA-17 Industrial Linear Actuator and a couple of our other 12V linear actuators draw up to 20 Amps of current at full load. Now you could ...

In today’s guide we will be going over how to find out how much force a linear actuator is applying by monitoring the amount of current it is using. This will be one of our more advanced guides and will require some complex coding, calibrating and programming. We will be covering the monitoring of an analog input and how it utilizes its functions. For this project we’ll be using a MegaMoto Plus, a linear actuator (we are using our PA-14 mini a...

Welcome to Part 2 of our Intro to Arduino Microcontrollers. Last time we went over the basics of Arduino and some of the different board models that we carry in stock. Today we’ll be going over a couple more of the boards that we have as well as how to get started with programming and coding them. The last two boards we’ll be discussing have some more advanced features then the ones we went over in Part 1, the Arduino Mega and the Arduino Ethe...

We’ve been expanding our line of control systems with the addition of microcontrollers, shields and other hardware, including becoming an official distributor of Arduino products. Arduino is one of the leaders in open-source electronic platforms and one of the most popular hardware brands in the industry. Starting in Italy in 2005 they have gradually expanded over the years, with many manufacturers and distributors opening around the world. I...

In this post we will be going over how to use relay boards to control the motion of linear actuators. We have 2-channel, 4-channel and 8-channel relay boards available and each one does the same thing, the only difference is how many channels are being used. We will be combining the relay boards with our LC-066 Arduino Uno to show off their control capabilities. The relays control the direction in which the actuator moves. They work by using ...

In our latest "How To" post we will be going over how to control the timing of a linear actuators motion using some of our microcontrollers. Microcontrollers give a lot of freedom in motion control and this is just one example of an almost endless amount of motion control options available. For this example we will be using: - 1 x LC-80 - 1 x LC-066 - 1 x PA-16 (any linear actuator will do) - 1 x PA-27 (any 12V power supply will do) Now ...

In today's how to post we will be going over the steps necessary to combine our linear actuator control systems together. Now in order to combine control systems you must prevent short circuiting as this can damage your components. Since the control boxes connect actuators to ground when not activated we cannot use them for direct control in parallel. When combining the systems we use diodes to allow only the current to flow away from the con...

Just recently here at Progressive Automations we have unveiled a new section in our selection of control systems, PLC controls. We've partnered with Arduino in order to bring you the highest quality PLCs on the market and so you can have more control options than you ever thought possible with linear actuators. So what exactly is a PLC? Otherwise known as a programmable logic controller, it is a digital computing device that is primarily used...

Installing can be a simple, easy, pain-free process for anyone. If you find you require some additional help with installation, this guide should be able to set you on the right path. This guide is aimed at helping those with simple automation projects, such as home automation projects, get the best installation possible. If you have any additional questions about the installation process, feel free to get in contact with us by using the cont...

We at Progressive Automations have prepared a step by step guide on how to connect a linear actuator to one of our control box models, specifically, the AC powered PA-20, one of our more popular models. To demonstrate we will be showing you how to successfully connect one of our new PA-18 Track Actuator units to the PA-20 control box. First, let’s start with making sure we have all the correct pieces to begin connecting: PA-18 Track Linear Act...

Lead screws are one of the most basic linear electric actuator technologies you'll find. In terms of matching cost with reliability, lead screws are your best bet, Here are some of your lead screw questions asked and answered. What is a lead screw? A lead screw is any threaded screw that helps create motion by moving a load along its surface. In the case of actuators, lead screws are used to push and pull the stroke. Lead screws come in a v...

In your search for the proper actuator, you might be wondering what duty cycle is and how it affects your application. When selecting an actuator, the duty cycle becomes important when you risk running the actuator beyond its expected operation. What is an Actuator and Duty Cycle? Duty cycle is the ratio of on time to off time, usually expressed as a percentage. This means if your actuator extends and retracts for 20 seconds, and then spends...

While putting together your home automation project, you may have come across a problem. The stroke is too long or too short for the application. Before you return the device to your manufacturer for an exchange, here are a few options that you can try. Too Long If your actuator extends past the length you need, there are a few different things you can try. This all depends on how far over the limit it’s going. Limit Switches You can try p...

Linear actuators are mechanical devices that have proven beneficial in home automation and design. Many designers have used actuators in residential and industrial applications to make home and business life easier. Depending upon the force requirements of the project, heavy duty actuators or mini actuators may be used. Most projects related to garage door automation or swing gates will require the use of heavy duty actuators because of the f...

Proper actuator installation is key for best performance. If your linear actuator has been installed correctly, it'll perform better over time and live through its complete life cycle. Use our tips as a checklist before you turn on your project. The risks of improper actuator installation mean two things. First, your actuator may not perform the way you want it to. It may not have enough room, it could bind, or it could stop working altogethe...

Looking for some linear actuator ideas for hobby automation? For the home hobbyist who likes building and inventing, knowing about linear actuators is a must. Actuators are simply mechanisms that convert energy into movement along a straight line. A regular motor differs from a linear actuator in that a motor creates rotational movement. There is a device available for every conceivable use by a hobbyist. The Many Roles An actuator may be ...