What is an Actuator? Actuator Types Explained

An actuator, by definition, is any device that controls or causes another device to move or operate. In principle, an actuator converts a control signal into mechanical action, like what happens in an electric motor or the read/write arm assembly of a hard disk drive.

The control signal can be pneumatic, electric, hydraulic, thermal, or mechanical in nature, but nowadays typically actuators are being driven by digital control signals via the use of software solutions.

Examples of Actuators

There are actually many different variations of actuators available today, but here are some of the common ones:

Electric motors
Solenoids
Hard Disk Drive Actuator
Stepper motors
Comb drives
Digital micromirrors
Hydraulic cylinders
Piezoelectric actuators
Pneumatic actuators
Electroactive polymers
Shape-memory alloys
Thermal bimorphs

Types of Actuators

There are three main types of actuators, although they can be differentiated further into other subtypes:

Electric Actuators

An electric actuator can produce the force or torque actuation in several different ways, but the main principle is that electrical energy is used to actuate the movement. This is mainly done by using an electric motor and a control system to convert electrical energy into torque or linear force.

We can also combine electric energy with other types of energy to perform the actuation. For example, an electrohydraulic actuator works by using an electric motor to provide torque to operate a hydraulic accumulator to produce the actuation force.

The most important advantage of electric actuators over the two other types is the fact that it can be used to produce very precise actuation and movements.

For example, a mechanical hard disk drive uses an actuator to read and write data from a spinning disk at extremely high speeds in excess of 7,200 RPM.

A stepper motor can produce rotation that moves a certain ‘step’ for each actuation. Stepper motors are common devices where position feedback is not needed and actuation steps are predefined an not likely to change.

Servo motors are used in applications that require a more granular or precise actuation. A servo motor can be commanded to a precise location using sensor feedback such as an encoder.

Here are some common uses of electric actuators in industry.

Robotics: electric linear actuators are the primary type used in robotics to improve production quality and accuracy while lowering costs. Electric actuators can perform repetitive, very precise movements and control the amount of force applied.

Food processing and manufacturing: hygiene is critical in food and beverage manufacturing, and electric actuators are clean, corrosion-resistant, and have a smoother enclosed design to prevent the accumulation of dirt and bacteria.

Cutting equipment: electric actuators are often used in cutting operations, especially when hygiene is also a requirement.

Agricultural machinery: machines that directly contact food typically involve electric actuators rather than hydraulic actuators.

Valve operations: many types of manufacturing factories and plants use valves that are powered by electric actuators.

Solar panels: solar panels use electric actuators to tilt themselves to directly face the sun throughout the day.

Pneumatic actuators

Pneumatic actuators utilize gas or pressurized air to actuate the movement. This is mainly performed by using a piston or diaphragm that keeps the air in the upper portion of the cylinder. In turn, air pressure will force open the piston to move the valve stem or rotate the valve control.

Many types of pneumatic actuators exist and can produce either linear or rotary motion. Pneumatic cylinders can be single or double-acting actuators.

Pneumatic actuators are typically used in main engine controls due to the nature of pneumatic energy. Pneumatic energy doesn’t need to be stored in reserve to perform the actuation, so can quickly respond in starting and stopping. Pneumatic energy is also safer, cheaper, and can be extremely powerful.

Examples of pneumatic actuator implementations include:

Fitness/exercise machines are commonly built on pneumatic systems to accommodate the adjustable resistance.

Air brakes on vehicles, like buses and trucks.

Pressure regulators on valves, which are designed to automatically stop the flow of air or fluid when it reaches a certain pressure.

Gas compressors typically rely on pneumatic actuators.

Vacuum pump removes gas molecules from containers to leave behind a vacuum.

Pressure switches, start/stop an electrical contact when a certain amount of pressure has been reached.

In the automotive industry, pneumatic actuators are used to dismantle tire, filling compressed air, painting, and so on.

Various industrial applications like material handling, sawing, drilling, clamping, and others are some of the most common applications of pneumatic actuators.

Hydraulic actuators

Hydraulic actuators, as the name suggests, utilizes the force from pressurized fluid or liquid (mainly oil) to create movement. This is typically done by using a cylinder barrel with a piston connected to a piston rod that moves back and forth.

Hydraulic actuators are based on the principle that fluids are incompressible, meaning, that a pressure change is equal in all directions in a closed system. This is known as Pascal’s Principle.

The basic idea of a hydraulic actuator is to use two pistons in separate hydraulic cylinders, and the hydraulic fluid can freely travel from one cylinder to the other.

When a force (the signal) is applied to one of the cylinders, the piston will move and then transmit the force through the fluid to move the other piston, creating the actuation.

The demonstration in the image above shows how a smaller piston with a much smaller input force can be utilized to drive or “actuate” a large piston resulting in a much larger output force.

Examples of hydraulic actuator implementations include:

Industrial: steel making equipment, primary metal extraction applications, automated production lines are common examples of industrial applications of hydraulic actuators.

Automotive industry: many types of equipment in the automotive industry utilizes hydraulic actuators. In the vehicles themselves, things like power steering, shock absorbers, brakes, are hydraulics in nature.

Construction: cranes, excavators, earth moving equipment, and other construction equipment utilizes hydraulic actuators.

Mining: various equipment in the mining industry, including hydraulic fracturing technology for extracting unused oils and gas beneath the earth’s surface by passing high-pressure fluid into the cracks.

Marine equipment: various control systems and equipment in ships are relying on hydraulic actuators.

Where Are Actuators Used?

Actuators can be used in any applications that require controlled, precise movement and/or force.

Motor actuators are typically used when circular/rotary motions are required but are also often utilized in linear implementations by transforming circular to linear motion with a lead screw or other means.

Actuators are often used in industrial and manufacturing applications, and in devices like pumps, valves, and switches that require controlled movements.

Below are common actuator types, their implementations, and their advantages/disadvantages:

Types	Characteristics	Use Cases
Ball-screw actuators	Offers great mechanical advantage by producing high axial output force for high torque input, but has limited stroke and speed.	Transportation (including aerospace), military, industrial
Brush DC motor actuators	Brush motors offer very robust and durable design, but typically expensive and complex to implement	Consumer-grade appliances, factory, automated devices.
Acme-screw actuators	Very simple to implement and versatile, but not very durable due to sliding wear	Heavy-duty equipment, consumer products (especially low-cost ones), transportation
Rod-style actuators	Hygienic due to its sealed motion components, but offer high force output. Relatively expensive	Medical applications, food processing/sorting, consumer-grade products
Belt-and-pulley actuators	Very high speed and longer strokes, but not very precise (need guiding equipment)	Conveyor belts
Linear motor actuators	Fast and precise, but relatively expensive	Semiconductors, medical, and other applications that require very high precision
Planetary roller-screw actuators	Fast and precise, but relatively complex installation	Aerospace, semiconductor, and other applications that require very high precision

What Is a 3-Position Actuator?

Standard actuators have only two positions to allow the actuation: open and close. For example, a piston in a hydraulic actuator can be positioned in a fully open position (i.e. up) and a fully closed position (i.e. down).

In a 3-position actuator, as the name suggests there is a third, intermediate position. For example, a 3-position pneumatic actuator can have an operation of 0°- 45°- 90°, with the 45° position as the third, intermediate position, or 0°- 90°- 180° with 90° as the intermediate position.

The intermediate stop position is typically adjustable, so, for example, a 45° can provide 20°, 30° positions, among others, while 90° actuators can provide 20°, 30° 50°, 75°, and so on. This is typically performed by adjusting the external nuts of the actuator (usually outside the two end-caps).

3-position actuators are used in dosing, exact filling, and any other kinds of applications where the intermediate stop position is needed.

To fully understand how 3-position actuators work, let’s check the images below.

Position 1 (fully-open, 0° position)

In this example of a pneumatic actuator, the air is supplied to port 2 and port C and is exhausted at port 4 to achieve the fully-open position. The air in port 2 generates force to the internal piston to continue the opening actuation.

Position 2 (Intermediate position)

The air is supplied simultaneously to port 2 and port D, while exhausted at port 4 and port C. The air supplied to port D moves the pistons to the center position, while the rods stop these pistons in the desired intermediate position as adjusted by the user.

Position 3 (Fully-closed position)

The closed position is achieved when air is supplied to port 4 and exhausted at port 2.

Conclusion

We hope we’ve answered some of your questions with respect to what an actuator is and explained some of the more common actuator types. If you enjoyed this article and would like to become a member of the site, you can register here completely free.

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