Linear Actuation System

Linear actuation system is an integrated mechanical system that converts electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic energy into linear motion through an energy conversion mechanism. Its core function is to achieve precise translation, lifting, or push-pull actions of loads, replacing traditional manual operations or complex mechanical structures, and widely used in fields such as automation equipment, precision manufacturing, medical instruments, etc. Linear actuation system, through the collaborative action of power source, transmission mechanism, and control system, can achieve diversified requirements from micrometer level accuracy to tens of tons of thrust, and is the basic module for intelligent motion control in modern industry.

The core principle of Linear actuation system is the dual conversion of energy form and motion form:

Energy Conversion: The power source converts input energy into a drivable form of energy. For example, electric systems convert electrical energy into rotational kinetic energy through motors, while hydraulic systems use hydraulic pumps to convert mechanical energy into fluid pressure energy.

Motion conversion: The transmission mechanism of Linear actuation system converts non-linear motion or pressure energy into linear displacement. In an electric system, the rotation of the motor is transmitted through components such as ball screws and synchronous belts, causing the slider to move in a straight line along the guide rail; The hydraulic/pneumatic system uses fluid pressure to push the piston and directly output linear thrust.

Closed loop control: Sensors (such as encoders and force sensors) provide real-time feedback on displacement, velocity, or pressure data. The controller dynamically adjusts the power output based on preset parameters to ensure accuracy (such as electric systems reaching ± 0.01mm) and stability.

Structure of Linear actuation system:

The system consists of four core modules:

Power source:

Electric type: servo motor (high-precision positioning), stepper motor (low-cost open-loop control).

Fluid type: hydraulic pump (high load), air pump (fast response).

Transmission mechanism:

Mechanical transmission: ball screw (high efficiency, long service life), synchronous belt (high-speed light load), gear rack (long stroke).

Direct drive: Linear motor (without mechanical transmission, with nanometer level accuracy).

Guiding components:

Linear guide rails (high rigidity) and linear bearings (low friction) ensure the straightness and impact resistance of motion.

Control system:

Controller (PLC, motion control card) combined with sensors (encoder, limit switch) to achieve closed-loop feedback, supporting multi-mode adjustments such as position, speed, and force control.

You are welcome to watch more projects or visit our video gallery by Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tallmanrobotics

Here, we introduce Linear actuation system by Fully Sealed Screw drive linear Modules

Lead Screw Linear Module for Clean Environment from Tallman Robot have following series TM-S-CR

Application Cases of Linear actuation system:

Industrial automation:

Semiconductor wafer handling: Micro servo cylinders achieve ± 0.002mm repeat positioning accuracy through planetary roller screws, replacing traditional pneumatic actuators in wafer alignment, probe testing, and other processes, improving efficiency by over 30%.

Logistics AGV robot: The Boby robot from Scallog, a French company, uses a LINAK LA36 electric push rod to achieve high-speed movement of 1.2 meters per second during 600kg shelf handling. It monitors the status in real-time through a CANopen interface, reducing the failure rate to below 0.1%.

Aerospace:

Aircraft landing gear drive: The hydraulic linear system drives the piston rod through high-pressure oil to output several tons of thrust in a short period of time, ensuring the rapid and reliable deployment of the landing gear.

Medical equipment:

Precision adjustment of operating table: The electric linear module integrates encoder and pressure sensor, supporting ± 0.1mm lifting accuracy and dynamic pressure compensation, meeting the safety and comfort requirements of intraoperative position adjustment.

Rehabilitation equipment: The pneumatic drive system adjusts the airflow pressure through a proportional valve to achieve soft and supportive control of the lower limb exoskeleton, adapting to gait training of different patients.

In the field of new energy:

Solar panel tracking: The electric push rod adjusts the tilt angle of the photovoltaic panel in real-time based on the illumination angle, combined with closed-loop control of the tilt sensor, resulting in a 15% -20% increase in power generation efficiency.

Wind power variable pitch system: Hydraulic linear actuators respond to changes in wind speed in milliseconds, ensuring optimal matching of blade angle and airflow direction through high-precision displacement feedback.

Technology Trends of Linear actuation system:

With the increasing demand for intelligence, linear drive systems are developing towards multi axis collaborative control (such as Cartesian robots), self diagnosis and predictive maintenance (real-time monitoring of vibration and temperature data through the Internet of Things), and lightweight material applications (carbon fiber guides, aluminum alloy cylinder bodies). For example, Bosch Rexroth's intelligent mechatronics module integrates motors, drivers, and software, which can be debugged in minutes, significantly shortening the deployment cycle of automated production lines. This technological evolution continues to expand its application scenarios in precision manufacturing, robotics, renewable energy, and other fields.