Start with the cards below. Pick the guide for your stage: sizing, wiring, Arduino, synchronization, feedback, speed control, or limit protection.
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How to choose the right actuator tutorial
The tutorials page is a hub, so the useful job is to help a visitor decide which guide to open after they have seen the tutorial library. Most actuator projects fail in the same few places: the load was estimated at the easy position, the stroke was chosen before the brackets were drawn, the power supply was sized from running current instead of start current, or the control wiring was treated as an afterthought.
If the project is still rough, begin with geometry and load. If the mechanism already moves, move to wiring, feedback, speed control, and limit protection. If two actuators must move together, handle synchronization early because it changes the actuator, controller, and mounting decisions.
Robbie Dickson field note
Do the simple calculation, then check the ugly position. In practice, the worst actuator force is often at the start of travel, not the middle. Before ordering parts, sketch the closed, half-open, and fully-open positions, then calculate force, stroke, speed, current, and bracket load at each one.
Wiring and switching
Start here when the actuator, switch, relay, or polarity reversing circuit is the main question. See how to wire a linear actuator to a switch and the wiring diagram generator.
Arduino and control
Use this path when position input, sensors, relays, or microcontroller logic decide the movement. Start with Arduino linear actuator position control.
Synchronization and feedback
Use feedback actuators when side-to-side matching matters. Read how to synchronize two linear actuators before finalizing brackets.
Limits, speed, and safety
Use external limit switches, speed control, and conservative power sizing when the load can jam or overtravel. See external limit switches and safe speed control.
Quick selection table
| Project stage | What to check first | Best next tutorial path |
|---|---|---|
| Idea or concept | Load direction, pivot location, stroke envelope, available mounting space, and the worst force angle. | Linear actuator selector tools and geometry tutorials. |
| Parts selected | Voltage, running current, start current, power supply margin, switch rating, relay rating, and fuse location. | Switch wiring and the wiring diagram generator. |
| Prototype moves | Binding, bracket flex, noise, heat, duty cycle, tolerance stack-up, and measured current under load. | Limit switch, speed control, and troubleshooting tutorials. |
| Two actuators move one load | Feedback type, controller compatibility, unequal loading, racking, and calibration process. | Synchronization tutorials before final mounting. |
Practical pre-build checklist
- Write down the load, stroke, desired speed, duty cycle, voltage, and available space before browsing models.
- Calculate the force at the worst angle. For a lid, hatch, lever, or lift, that is often near closed.
- Add friction, seal drag, side load, and a safety factor. A clean bench test is usually kinder than the real installation.
- Check mounting brackets as part of the force path. A stronger actuator can bend weak brackets or tear out fasteners.
- Size the power supply for the actuator behavior, not only the label. Start current and stall current matter.
- Plan limit protection before the first full-power test. Mechanical hard stops should not be the control strategy.
- If using Arduino or another controller, test the logic with no load first, then add load and measure current and heat.
FAQ for choosing the right tutorial
Should I start with wiring or actuator sizing?
Start with sizing if the actuator has not been chosen. Wiring comes after you know voltage, current, force, stroke, and duty cycle. If the actuator is already installed, start with wiring and current checks, then come back to sizing if the mechanism struggles.
When do I need a feedback actuator?
Use feedback when the controller needs to know position, when two actuators must stay aligned, or when the same motion must repeat to a measured point. Simple extend and retract jobs can often use a standard actuator, switch, relay, and limit protection.
What is the most common tutorial path for a first project?
Most first projects should follow this order: define load and stroke, choose actuator type, check mounting geometry, build the wiring diagram, bench test movement, then add controls such as Arduino, remotes, speed control, or synchronization.
How do I know if the actuator is undersized?
Watch for high current, slow movement, heat, buzzing, stalling, bracket flex, or motion that only fails near one end of travel. Those symptoms usually mean the load, friction, force angle, or safety factor was underestimated.