Planning a project that lifts, tilts, opens or grips? The FIRGELLI Actuator Design Studio lets you start with a familiar application, explore its movement and compare actuator options.
Choose a picture that resembles your project, then open its calculator. You can work through the geometry and loads before deciding where an actuator should fit.
Explore the Actuator Design Studio →
Start with what you want to move
- Choose your application. Look for a mechanism similar to your hatch, lifting platform, linkage or other moving assembly.
- Enter your measurements. Adjust the dimensions, moving load and mounting positions available in that calculator. Use measurements from your own project rather than relying on the example settings.
- Watch the movement. Play or scrub through the animation to explore the selected motion. Change a setting and see how the mechanism responds.
- Compare actuators. Review the calculated force and stroke, then compare the available models. Where mounting lengths are shown, check those too: enough stroke does not necessarily mean an actuator will fit.
Each calculator is built around its particular mechanism. Its inputs and assumptions explain which parts of your design the results cover.
Three projects to try
- Floor hatch: explore a hinged cover and compare actuator mounting positions.
- Automatic Cattle Feeder: model a lifting lid and a separately hinged front flap, including their moving weights.
- Five-finger robot hand: move one digit at a time and compare five forearm-mounted drives, with one actuator assigned to each digit.
Take the result to your workbench
A force-and-stroke match is a starting point, not a finished build check. Before choosing hardware, check clearance through the full motion, provide rigid bracket supports and confirm the exact actuator's dimensions, power requirements and duty cycle. An animation helps you explore a layout; it does not test the strength of your brackets or assembly.
