I’m trying to sort out how to balance speed and pushing force when choosing a linear actuator. I’ve been building a small automatic hatch for my workshop, and the first actuator I bought was super fast but barely had enough strength to lift the panel once it got damp. Then I tried a stronger one, but the thing moved so slowly it felt like watching paint dry. I’m hoping someone here has been through the same trial-and-error and figured out what to prioritize so the setup doesn’t feel underpowered or sluggish.
In reply to tommy cooper
Re: Balance of Speed, Force, and Reliability in Linear Actuators
by joy joy -
Yeah, I ran into a similar headache when I was upgrading a small outdoor lift for a trailer. The fast actuator I used originally kept stalling when the load wasn’t perfectly balanced, so I had to step back and rethink what actually mattered. A unit with more torque and better sealing ended up lasting way longer, even though it wasn’t the quickest. If you want an example of the type I’ve had luck with, here’s the kind of model I’m talking about: https://www.progressiveautomations.com/products/waterproof-linear-actuator . The key for me was picking something that wasn’t maxing out its force every time it moved. A little overhead makes everything smoother and less noisy, and the actuator just runs calmer overall.
I’m mostly reading along because I’ve been tinkering with a few different mechanical setups lately, and it’s surprising how many small adjustments end up making the whole system feel more dependable. Sometimes just switching to a sturdier mounting bracket or tightening up the alignment changes how the whole mechanism behaves. Even minor tweaks can make equipment feel way more solid without replacing any major components.