People argue about the price of a linear actuator. Some of them might be inexpensive at all, but they will have relatively lower quality, others are so costly, builders are bound to reject this offer and try some other choices. So why are linear actuators so expensive and why shouldn’t you buy cheaper variants even though it’s much more convenient?
What is a linear actuator?
A linear actuator is an automation that makes your load move in a forward motion and retract its length in order to double in size in order to lift weights. Linear actuators vary greatly in the financial segment, because all of the prices depend on various factors. These are some characteristics that will make your progressive automation more expensive:
- Low duty cycle
A duty cycle is a period of work minus period of rest. A linear actuator has on and off phases. When a linear actuator is working, it uses energy to move the load and due to inevitable overheating, it has to stop for some time. But this process happens so fast you almost cannot notice it. So, the less time your linear actuator has to take rest, the more expensive it will be.
- Stroke length
A stroke length is a characteristic that allows your linear actuator to retract and reach maximum length in the minimal amount of time. Stroke length is very much needed at the automations that require more specific and accurate movements and automations where you need to lift your weight, making it reach maximal distance. You can notice it in robotics where it is necessary to move limbs of your future robot as far as possible. It is also widely used in some household builds where you need to consider the length of the stroke in order to lift heavier weights like a garage door or something. It is quite understandable that the bigger the stroke length will be, the bigger the price of your progressive automation will be.
- Operational temperature
Operational temperature is the unit that manifests which temperatures your automation will bear. Linear actuators are prone to be overheating, so a lot of them can’t work at high temperatures and are not applicable for places with hot climate. And again, some of the linear actuators don’t work or work incorrectly in places with cold climate, that is why the liquid in the motor of a linear actuator starts freezing at low temperatures. That is why people who are thinking about building an automation in a place with relatively hot or cold climate should consider buying a more expensive variant that is made exactly for the right temperature.
Why should you buy a more expensive linear actuator when you can buy a cheaper variant? The thing is, automations are quite serious and if one element like a motor will be out of order, the whole movement and linear motion can corrupt, which will lead to overall disaster. It is better to buy a more expensive automation once than buying hundreds of cheaper variants. A linear actuator is a thing that is supposed to serve you long, that is why is do expensive.
