3D Printed High Load Linear Actuator

thingiverse

You can buy linear actuators on the market, but none of them come with precise displacement measurement and a high load capacity at this price point. The finished model shown is capable of pushing or pulling up to 300 pounds and moves at a pace of about 0.5 inches per minute. I used it in a specific project, but you can use it for whatever purpose you have in mind! This assembly is a key component of the Testrbot open-source universal test machine: http://www.instructables.com/id/TestrBot-The-300-Universal-Test-Machine/. I've also made available 'Base Type 2' files if you want to design a higher speed configuration. In this setup, you won't need the gears, as seen in photo 3. Instructions For a complete Excel bill of materials see the 'Actuator' section of TestrBot BOM here: https://cdn.instructables.com/ORIG/F7U/ROLA/J1CEY4G5/F7UROLAJ1CEY4G5.xlsx I chose a stroke of 5.375 inches, but you can choose any stroke length you want. I have provided the equations below for calculating the actuator component lengths based on your desired stroke, in case someone else wants to use this design for another purpose. Stroke = Your choice! Small PVC pipe length = Stroke + 3.125 inches Large PVC pipe length = Stroke + 1.625 inches Anti-Rotation Rod length = Stroke + 2.625 inches Threaded Rod length = Stroke + 4 inches