Choosing the Right Actuator for Small-Scale DIY Projects or Home Automation
I’m putting together a small home automation setup for a hidden storage compartment under my desk, and I’m a bit stuck on figuring out what type of actuator makes the most sense. I don’t need a ton of force, but I do want something quiet and reliable since it’ll be used multiple times a day. I tried a cheap no-name actuator before, and it got stuck after a week. Anyone have suggestions or things I should look out for before I order something new?
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I ran into the same problem when I built a lift mechanism for a sliding kitchen cabinet. What helped me was taking a closer look at stroke length and noise level instead of just focusing on force. Also, checking out different options on actuator https://www.progressiveautomations.com/pages/actuators gave me a better idea of how compact some of these units can be. For small DIY builds, I’ve found that smoother motion and low power draw matter more than raw strength, especially if the actuator will be close to where you sit or work.