Advantages and Disadvantages
| Actuator Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | Cheap. Repeatable. No power source required. Self contained. Identical behaviour extending or retracting. | Manual operation only. No automation. |
| Electro-mechanical | Cheap. Repeatable. Operation can be automated. Self-contained. Identical behaviour extending or retracting. DC or stepping motors. Position feedback possible. | Many moving parts prone to wear. |
| Linear motor | Simple design. Minimum of moving parts. High speeds possible. Self-contained. Identical behaviour extending or retracting. | Low force. |
| Piezoelectric | Very small motions possible. | Requires position feedback to be repeatable. Short travel. Low speed. High voltages required. Expensive. Good in compression only, not in tension. |
| Hydraulic | Very high forces possible. | Can leak. Requires position feedback for repeatability. External hydraulic pump required. Some designs good in compression only. |
| Pneumatic | Strong, light, simple, fast. | Precise position control impossible except at full stops |
| Wax motor | Smooth operation. | Not as reliable as other methods. |
| Segmented spindle | Very compact. Range of motion greater than length of actuator. | Both linear and rotary motion. |
| Moving coil | Force, position and speed are controllable and repeatable. Capable of high speeds and precise positioning. Linear, rotary, and linear + rotary actions possible. | Requires position feedback to be repeatable. |
| MICA (moving iron controllable actuator) | High force and controllable. Higher force and less losses than moving coils. Losses easy to dissipate. Electronic driver easy to design and set up. | Stroke limited to several millimeters, less linearity than moving coils |
Read more about this topic: Linear Actuator
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