Controlling a Linear Actuator through LabView with Arduino

[timclemson]

Hey All!

I am working on a project in which I want to use a linear actuator to move a magnet on a rod back and forth.  The movement needs to be precise, as I need to move the magnet 0.1 cm one way and then 0.1 cm back the other way at a pretty quick speed.

I was thinking of getting this actuator...http://www.firgelliauto.com/product_info.php?cPath=118&products_id=258

Will this actuator be able to be controlled by LabView and be precise?

My question is, how can I connect this actuator to LabView? I think this actuator has positive and negative exposed leads that can be plugged into an Arduino.  Would this work? Do I need additional hardware like a driver or controller? Or does the arduino do this for me?

Any help and suggestions are appreciated!

-Tim

[Nathan_B.]

That actuator is just a motor with power leads.  It cannot be powered by Arduino.  An actuator with a 10 inch stroke and 2 inches per second is probably a very bad choice since you are wanting to move something only 1 millimeter.  To even begin finding an actuator you might want to quantify "pretty quick".

[timclemson]

Nathan,

Thanks for the response.  So basically I would need to get a power supply with the actuator?  The actuator needs to be able to move the magnet at a speed of at least 5 cm/sec. Any suggestions for an actuator that is not too expensive that can work with arduino?

Tim

[Nathan_B.]

In your first post you say you need to move it 1 millimeter and therefore I would recommend not using that actuator at all.  If that was a typo then it might work.  You would need some kind of motor controller and you would send it signals to tell it how to run the motor.

There probably aren't any actuators like that that will actuall run off the arduino.  The arduino is a very low power device, it's only 5V and cannot supply much current.  The biggest thing that I've powered through an arduino is a servo (the type you use on RC vehicles).

[Jason_Vandehey]

1mm movement would probably mean creating some sort of mechanism to take your actuator movement and reduce it.

Or, if your movement is only out and back, use a selenoid?  memory shape alloys or something else clever?  Stepper motor with a cam on the end driving a rod?

Either way, you'll need to amplify your signal from the Arduino.  I wonder if a book like this one would have good amplifier circuits?  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/007174133X/

Basically, you'll need a cascode bridge since you'll want push/pull capabilities.  Or look up H-Bridges.