What is an actuator?
An actuator is a cleaner and more efficient alternative to hydraulic and pneumatic solutions. Electric actuators convert rotary motion of gears and a ball or lead screw into straight, or linear, motion for accurate, repeatable performance of pushing/pulling, raising/lowering, rotating or positioning loads.
Actuators are commonly used in applications such as agricultural machines and equipment, medical devices, factory automation, material handling and many others.
Find out more about electric actuators >
What are the different types of actuators?
Thomson offers a wide range that are categorized as linear, precision, stepper motor and rodless.
- Linear actuators are used in all types of equipment to automate processes, remove people from dangerous situations, provide remote control or make difficult/tedious/manual jobs easier.
- Precision linear actuators are designed for applications that require higher speed, higher loads, continuous duty cycle, precise positioning and flexible integration in tight areas.
- Stepper motor linear actuators combine a hybrid stepper motor and a precision lead screw in one compact envelope, suiting applications where external guidance is present or a high level of design flexibility required.
- Rodless linear actuators are also known as linear motion systems.
Sensors and actuators 