How to Choose an Actuator: What to Consider — Stroke, Force, Speed, Mounting Style, and Voltage
I’m trying to put together a lift mechanism for a small DIY workstation, but I keep getting confused about all the specs. Stroke length and force seem straightforward, but when I start comparing speed and different mounting brackets, I get lost fast. Last time I bought an actuator, it was way too slow for what I needed, and returning it was a whole adventure. How do you all decide which parameters matter most when picking one for a custom project?
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I’ve run into that same problem before. What helped me was figuring out the force requirement first, then matching the stroke and speed so the movement felt natural for the build. The tricky part is that higher force usually means slower motion, so you have to find a balance. I’ve been checking options here: linear actuator https://www.progressiveautomations.com/collections/linear-actuators because they list the specs clearly enough to compare without guessing. Also, thinking ahead about how you’ll mount it saves a lot of frustration later — some setups need more space than you expect.