Over the years, there have been different demands from across the world, especially when it comes to the application of actuators, and this has led to the development of different types of actuator setups today. In this article, we’ll go through the different types of electrical linear actuators available, so continue reading.

Inline Actuators

The inline actuator is one that is connected to a screw, and this is with the aid of a planetary gearbox. There are different options for this type of actuator available on the market today. Inline actuators usually have narrow or small profiles, which is by they are perfect for application within tight dimensions.

Basically, the planetary gearbox allows the inline actuators to be used with a lower pitch, and this is to get a perfect self-lock. Also, the interesting thing to note is that the inline actuator usually has a higher speed.

Parallel Actuators

Parallel actuators have the transmission between the motor and the straight spur gear in line with the piston. However, this is folded so that it stays parallel to the piston. With this design, the actuator can offer a small cross-sectional area and a short inbuilt length to make it suitable for application with very little space.

Also, this type of actuator uses a very low pitch which allows it to obtain a self-lock that can bring about a very low speed, unlike other actuators available.

Worm Gear, Flexible Motor Mount Actuators

This is also a type of parallel actuator, but its transmission is based on the worm gear, which is linked o the motor that drives a bevel gear at 90 degrees. With hits, the assembly of the worm/motor gear can rotate freely.

What you should note about this type is that it has an additional complexity, which is with two different gearboxes. The actuator offers users the ability to configure the position of the motor freely so that it can suit different applications and needs. Interestingly, this makes the actuator stronger and a lot quieter, especially when it is compared to the other types of actuators that we have mentioned above.

Perpendicular Actuators

The last type of actuator on our list is the perpendicular actuator, which also has different types available on the market today. Like other options above, perpendicular actuators also have their unique features. The distinguishing feature is that it has an additional spur-gear transmission located in-between the screw and the worm gear. This makes it a high pitch solution while retaining its lift capacity to further guarantee high efficiency and speed.

These are the key types of actuators that you should know, especially before you set to buy one. There are different options available, which is why it’s important to know what you are getting.