Thursday, April 19, 2012

Employing The Methods Of Linear Actuators For Business Evolution

There are innumerable organizations that have been realizing the miscellaneous practices of linear actuators so that they can outshine their contenders.

What is a linear actuator? What are its assorted aspects and pluses?

There can be numerous responses to the above stated questions but those who have been dynamically practicing the procedures of such pliable devices would be well-versed with the basic facts of linear actuators. In fact, they are so flexible and adaptable that none of the organizations can ponder over to survive the global race without their reliable use. It would not be void to say that every conglomerate is on the run to prove its worth as there exists an abrupt competition among the vertical segments. The indispensable use of such bendable mechanisms has paved the right path for any specific business to nurture and provides a prospect to attain a viable over its contenders. There are various types of actuators that are available in the global market and on which you can get a hands-on knowledge and they are easily accessible in today's cut-throat market.

An actuator is one of the most admirable tools that have become an obligatory need for almost every industry because of the reason they are pliable and user-friendly. The role of such a device comes into play when there is a need to maneuver a structure or a mechanism. In fact, there are diverse methods available to us that we can use in order to monitor the movement of such a crucial tool like pneumatic pressure or hydraulic fluid pressure so on and so forth. Then they transform the energy into some kind of motion.

There are heterogeneous types of actuators that create their own presence felt among the challengers and vigorously help the organizations to climb the ladder of success in the shortest possible time. To commence with, if we throw some light on the diverse facets of "mechanical actuators", you would get to know how crucial they are for a specific business to be judicious in the longer run. The role of such gadgets is to transform the rotary motion of a control knob or handle into linear transposition with the help of gears and/or screws to which the knob is fastened. A very familiar example of mechanical actuator is car-jack or jack-screw. Nonetheless, "hydraulic actuators, pneumatic actuators, piezoelectric actuators and electro-mechanical actuators" are some of the most prominent actuators that have made their mark in almost every field and other purposes.


Progressive Automations is a North American linear actuators producer and wholesaler that offers a wide range of actuators, linear actuators, DC actuators, etc. on its online store.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Ensuring Performance of Electric Linear Actuators

Electric actuators come with benefits like simple to use and offer more energy-efficient power transmission. This may not surprise you to hear that the actuators are found in commercial kitchen equipment, high-voltage switch gears, agriculture machinery, train doors, bus doors and also in medical machinery.

Adding to it, areas where compactness, safety, comfort and low noise are the goals, electric linear actuators can be easily seen there. This article will deal why we need to go for reviewing of the products before the purchase? How it helps in ensuring the performance of such actuators in desired field?

Unique requirements
As discussed above that the actuators have been getting used in various industrial areas and this is the fact that each application has specific and unique requirements. This is the reason why we need to check the performance and features of product before the purchase.

System's design
Actuators meant for different applications are manufactured by considering the needs and purpose of systems in the particular field. It can also be said that the design and manufacturing process varies from application to application. Thus, considering unique requirements, checking design of the systems will help a lot to decide whether the system is worth to purchase for the application or not.

Key parameters
There are certain key parameters to select the actuation system. Such parameters ultimately play an effective role in ensuring the system operation. So, along with system design, necessary capabilities are also required to be verified before taking final decision of the purchase.

Essential qualities
Whatever be the size of electric linear actuators is, they all are designed and manufactured to offer features like precision, accuracy, efficiency and controlling movement capabilities. Being considered as advanced technology based and maintenance-free alternatives to pneumatic actuation systems, electric actuators serve practically and efficiently all over.

Load, speed and strokes
As per the application, the actuators come with different speed; strokes and capacity to bear load.Modern actuators come with the capacity to handle the load of about 3000 pounds and speed up to 6 inches/second. As far as strokes are concerned, one will find the actuators working with strokes from 2 inches to 60 inches.

Standard components
There are certain standard components of electric actuation systems which one is required to check. Such components include drive screws, front and rear attachments, motors, controls and limit switches. For better results, one can also go for the customization of products. A number of knowledgeable and experienced actuation system suppliers are present in the market to serve us in this regard.

Hence, from the above discussions, it can be said that after checking these aspects, one will be able to get high performance based electric linear actuators.


Progressive Automations are the manufacturer and distributor of a diverse range of electric linear actuators in the US and Canadian region.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Linear Actuator and Its Types

A linear actuator is a machine or assembly of various tools that creates linear force and motion using an externally applied energy source. They are primary blocks for shaping live wire automation equipment. The external energy source may be as varied as mechanical, hydraulic, Pneumatic, Piezoelectric and Electro-mechanical. Mechanical actuators convert rotary motion of a general or stub acme screw thread or worm gear into linear movement through generating mechanical force. An ideal example is an automobile jack or scissor jack that is of great utility. Mechanical linear actuators also assist to arrange lasers and optical devices, as well as the sequence of rotary stages, linear stages, and other positioning instrumentation. There are another advanced category of linear actuators with the enhanced power of a digital encoder or a Linear Voltage Displacement Transducer (LVDT) to ensure in accurately positioning the linear actuator for the requisite function.

Hydraulic actuators are also popularly recognized as hydraulic cylinders that generally involve a hollow cylinder with a piston in it. The two ends of the piston are alternately pressurized and de-pressurized to result in controlled accurate linear displacement of the piston. The part connected to the piston also displaces as a result. The linear dislodging is along the axis of the piston or the cylinder only. This model is based on the hydraulics principles. A hydraulic car jack is an example of a manually operated hydraulic actuator.

Pneumatic systems are extensively used in industry, where factories are commonly plumbed with compressed air or other compressed inert gases. This is because a centrally-located and electrically-powered compressor that powers cylinders and other pneumatic devices through solenoid valves is often able to provide motive power in a cheaper, safer, more flexible, and more reliable way than a large number of electric motors and actuators.

There are certain industrial sectors in which factories are usually plumbed with compressed inert gases or compressed air. The principle is accepted as an electrically-powered and centrally-located compressor which powers cylinders and other pneumatic devices by solenoid valves that on most of the occasion are effective in producing motive power that is economical, safer, and more dependable than a large number of electric motors and actuators. Pneumatic actuators also popularly known as pneumatic cylinders resemble hydraulic actuators except for the fact that they use compressed gas to generate pressure instead of any liquid.

Piezoelectricity is the electrical charge which is deposited in solid materials like crystals, a few types of ceramics, and biological elements such as bone, DNA and a variety of proteins in response to applied mechanical strain. Piezoelectricity signifies electricity derived by generating pressure. The Greek terms piezo or piezein which means to squeeze or press, and electric or electron that stands for fossilized tree resin (not sap), with wonderful color and natural organic beauty since Neolithic times, one of the earliest source of electric charge. Piezoelectricity is the direct procurement from the piezoelectric effect. The piezoelectric effect is considered as the linear electromechanical interaction between the mechanical and the electrical state in crystalline materials with no inversion symmetry. The piezoelectric effect is a reversible process in compounds or elements exhibiting the direct piezoelectric effect (the internal generation of electrical charge developing from an applied mechanical force) and also shows the reverse piezoelectric effect (the internal generation of a mechanical force coming out from an applied electrical field).

Electro-mechanical actuators are simple variations of mechanical actuators with the control knob or handle replaced with an electric motor. Rotary motion of the motor generates linear displacement of the actuator. Medical equipment, furniture, consumer products, hobby design and any other products where automation is necessary uses linear actuators. Linear actuators are a boon as far as automation is concerned and its use in applicable functions raises productivity and reduces overall production cost.


Progressive Automations is an amazing on-line wholesaler of linear actuators and lifting columns to consumers in the United States, Canada and the rest of the world. Progressive Automations has in store a large variety of reasonably priced linear actuators in different size, force and speed. Progressive Automations maintains a large inventory on hand in their warehouses in the United States and Canada to support the innumerable orders they receive every day. Progressive Automations also addresses custom orders where it manufactures linear actuators based on your requirements of actuator type, force, stroke size and voltage.