Minimum practicable linear actuator stroke

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Hello everyone!

I'm working on some mechanical system which requires linear actuator to be set in motion. Motion limits are narrow and my first study therefore produced the required stroke of an actuator of about 1 mm. I guess it is too little? Shall I take care to increase the required stroke? Or is it practicable and I will actually be able to successfully control it with 1 mm motion? If not, what is the recommended minimum stroke? The system is light and doesn't require powerful actuator.

http://www.cadroad.com

 

[PNachtwey]

Strokes of 1mm are not that rare. They are used in high frequency sinusoidal testing. In your case you don't need force. Is the amplitude fixed? If so one easy way of getting a 1mm stroke is to spin an eccentric cam on a motor. If different amplitudes are necessary then use different cams. The problem with ball screw/lead screw systems is that they will wear in that 1mm of travel.

Peter Nachtwey
Delta Computer Systems

http://www.deltamotion.com

http://forum.deltamotion.com/

 

[itsmoked]

1mm is really lousy for ball screw type stuff, as Peter mentions a cam would be much better. Also, piezoelectric, or voice-coil, or galvanometer are all good candidates.

Look in Laser World Magazine if you want high accuracy small movement platforms.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[IRstuff]

How fast do you need the strokes? Micrometer drives could possibly work, with better than 1 um resolution.

TTFN
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