How To Category - Progressive Automations Blog

Arduino is a specific open-source community\company\project in one, which specializes in microcontrollers, specifically the building and programming of them. Arduino also offers simple kits made for easy assembly. Arduino controllers are small controllers of microchips and boards which allow for remote control of certain pieces of equipment. These microcontrollers are both digital and analog, meaning they can be used for a wide variety of equi...

A speed controller is a circuit that is created to vary the speed of an electronic motor or to stop it entirely. Speed controllers are mostly found on electrical linear actuators and can either be a stand-alone unit or part of the linear actuator itself. Linear actuator speed control can be regulated without sacrificing the overall force that the linear actuator can bring to the task at hand. Speed controllers’ function by adjusting the voltag...

Ball screws and lead screws are used for different applications and are often not interchangeable. Both have alternate advantages and disadvantages. If you compare a ball screw and lead screw design yourself, the first thing you might notice is that they are designed to carry loads differently. The way ball screws move a load is through recirculating ball bearings to maximize efficiency and minimize friction. A lead screw relies on the amount ...

 A linear actuator is a common electro-mechanical component used in many applications. The unit is highly customizable and can be modified to fit into different environments and meet various functional demands. There are many sensors available to utilize linear actuators positional feedback feature. In this article, we will discuss how a linear actuator with a limit switch works and linear actuator limit switch wiring to fully understand feedb...

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. [cta] [cta-content] The stroke length of our elec...

Some of the most frequently asked questions we receive is to do with IP protection and ratings. What does an IP rating mean? What are the different IP ratings? How does the rating system work? We understand there are many questions regarding this topic, so to help you understand it better, we have created this guide. [cta] [cta-content] Check out our actuators rated above IP65! Browse Actuators [cta]   IP rating meaning An International Protec...