3D Printed Linear Actuator Is Cheap and Strong
Motors are all well and good for moving things, but they’re all about the round-and-round. Sometimes, you need to move something back and forth, and for that a linear actuator will do the trick. While they can be readily sourced for under $50 online; Michael Rechtin genuinely felt like reinventing the wheel; and managed to whip up a 3D-printed design that costs under 20 bucks.
The basic design is simple; consisting of a small motor which is geared down through several stages using simple spur gears. The last gear in the train is tasked with turning a lead screw; which drives the arm of the linear actuator back and forward.
For simplicity; Michael used a 24V brushed DC gearmotor for its low cost and the fact it already has a step-down gearbox integrated into the design. It’s paired with a couple more 3D-printed spur gears to provide even more torque. Instead of a fancy lead screw; the build instead just uses a quarter-inch bolt sourced from Home Depot, which can be had much cheaper. This pushes a 3D-printed arm back and forth thanks to a nut stuck in the arm. It’s all wrapped up in a neat-and-tidy 3D-printed housing. The design is able to push with a force of roughly 220 lbs. For a more practical idea of its strength, it can readily crush an empty soda can.
The video on the design is great, showing how important features like limit switches are added; and how the wiring can be neatly hidden away inside the housing.
Read more: https://hackaday.com/2022/05/18/3d-printed-linear-actuator-is-cheap-and-strong/
