Linear Actuators

For more than 50 years, Thomson has pioneered the development of advanced electric linear actuators, delivering efficient, long-life and value-driven solutions to countless applications. Browse the many resources below to discover which actuator is ideal for your next linear motion project.

Standard Linear Actuators

Electrak XD Linear Actuators

Electrak HD Linear Actuators

Electrak MD Linear Actuators

Electrak LL Linear Actuators

H-Track Electro-Hydraulic Linear Actuators

Electrak 050 Linear Actuators

Electrak 1 (SP) Linear Actuators

M-Track

Electrak GX Linear Actuators

B-Track

Electrak LA14 Linear Actuators

Electrak PPA-DC Linear Actuators

Electrak Throttle Linear Actuators

Electrak 205 AC Linear Actuators

Electrak LA 24 AC Linear Actuators

Electrak PPA-AC Linear Actuators

Electrak PPA-M Non-Driven Linear Actuators

Electrak FA14 Non-Driven Linear Actuators

Max Jac Heavy Duty Linear Actuators

Electrak Non-Driven

LM80 Rodless Linear Actuators

Rotary Actuators

Linear Actuator Controls

Legacy Linear Actuators

What Are Linear Actuators?

Electric linear actuators, which convert rotary motion of gears and a ball or lead screw into linear motion, provide a cleaner, safer, more efficient and cost-effective alternative to hydraulic or pneumatic solutions. Incorporating linear actuators into machines eliminates the risks involved with workers being put into dangerous situations, while turning tedious manual processes into automated ones.

What are linear actuators used for?

A linear actuator is a mechanical device designed to convert rotational motion into linear motion. It is used to move or control objects along a straight line. With their ability to provide precise and controlled movement, linear actuators play a vital role in improving efficiency, automation and convenience in a wide range of industries. They are utilized in industrial automation, material handling, automotive systems, aerospace technology and even in everyday consumer products.

How does a linear actuator work?

A linear actuator usually consists of an electric motor, a lead screw, and a nut or carriage. When the motor rotates, it transfers the rotational motion to the screw, causing the nut or carriage to move along the screw. This linear displacement allows the actuator to extend or retract, depending on the rotation direction of the motor. This allows the actuator to provide precise and controlled linear motion for various applications in industries like automation and automotive systems.

How do I choose the right linear actuator?

Choosing the linear actuator that best fits the requirements of your application involves several key factors:

Load Capacity - Determine the load capacity and force required to move your application.
Speed/Distance - Consider the speed and travel distance needed, as well as any space limitations.
Power Source - Evaluate the power source options, such as AC or DC, and the voltage requirements.
Control - Determine the desired control options, whether manual or automated.
Environment - Assess the environmental conditions, such as temperature and moisture level, to ensure the durability of the chosen actuator.

Why Thomson Linear Actuators?

For more than 50 years and in various applications such as agricultural machines, material handling, medical devices, factory automation among others, powerful Thomson electric linear actuators have set the standard for long-life, heavy duty performance. Built from rugged, high-quality components, these 24v and 12v linear actuators require zero maintenance, don’t leak fluids and are simple to integrate into existing automation processes. Our “smart” heavy duty linear actuators have been integrated with a printed circuit board to provide advanced control options and enhanced performance.

Optimize your design with a custom electric linear actuator.

When our wide selection of linear actuators simply doesn’t meet your application requirements, experienced Thomson engineers can work with you to customize your actuator to meet your exact specifications. Options for your custom solution can include enhanced controllability, synchronization capabilities, stroke length, voltage, bus communication and many others.

Where Can You Get Started?

Thomson provides extensive online resources to help you no matter where you may be in the purchase decision process:

Sizing and Selection

Webinar Recordings

Training

Technical Articles

FAQ

Let Thomson Help You Make Your Selection!

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Linear Actuator Videos

Browse our latest videos on linear actuators, ranging from smart actuation, electro-hydraulic linear actuators, and more.

VIDEO: Commercial-Grade or Precision Linear Actuator? How to Choose the Ideal Component for Your Application.

There are distinct features and benefits of both commercial-grade and precision linear actuators that factor into which is better suited for a given application. Therefore, it is important to be aware of these considerations when making your linear actuator selection.

VIDEO: Clean and Simple: The Electrification of Linear Actuator Applications

The trend of using electric linear actuators in machines using motion control is strong and growing. In addition to the benefits of simplicity, cleanliness, safety, space consciousness and cost saving, newer capabilities in controllability, power, shock load dampening and regen have made electrification a no-brainer for designers.

The list of benefits as a result of converting from hydraulic to electric actuation is a long one, but a handful of key drivers rise to the top when it comes to making your decision:

Health and Safety

Hydraulic fluid creates safety risks for workers (personal injury), liabilities for employers and costly environmental cleanup. Converting to electric, which allows for a more compact, quiet and clean actuator design, significantly reduces the risks involved with hydraulic systems.

Controllability

With precise positioning, synchronization of multiple axes and multiple feedback options, electric actuators drive machine productivity and efficiency improvements.

Sustainability

Electric actuators use less overall power to move loads, providing unparalleled energy efficiency, while producing low noise- and leak-free operation in extreme environmental conditions.

Battery Technology

Efficiency improvements and cost reductions in battery technology can lead to value-driven, high-performance all-electric machine designs.

VIDEO: Electrak XD: Ushering in the Next Evolution of Electric Actuators

Meet the Thomson Electrak® XD electric linear actuator. It is strong enough to take on new hydraulic applications while, at the same time, be smarter, smaller and more efficient than competitive technologies. This model represents a new level of load-handling capability, tackling loads up to 25,000 N. Duty cycle up to 100%, strokes up to 1200 mm and speeds up to 75 mm/s highlight its performance. How can the XD revolutionize your next design project?

VIDEO: H-Track Electro-Hydraulic Linear Actuator: Handling Heavy Loads in Tight Spaces

Learn more about the Thomson H-Track electro-hydraulic actuator, which incorporates a patented fluid power design that provides high load capability for extreme duty use, a more compact pin to pin than other actuators of the same load capability, excellent ingress protection and corrosion resistance.

VIDEO: Thomson Smart Actuation: Designing Smart Machines with Smart Tools

What is smart actuation and how can your applications benefit from it? Hakan Persson, the Global Product Line Director for Actuators at Thomson, walks you through the makings of a smart electromechanical actuator, its integrated electronics, where it is best applied and three Thomson actuator families offering these solutions.

VIDEO: Electrak® HD Linear Actuators Boost the Design IQ for Tribine Harvester

Thomson Electrak® HD linear actuators have benefited Tribine Harvester's groundbreaking design. Implemented in the concaves around the rotor and grain bin extensions, these components were selected because of their communication across a CAN bus network, dynamic braking and many other smart features.

Thomson Electrak HD Linear Actuators - Strong. Smart. Sturdy.

Thomson Product Line Specialist, Travis Gilmer, and Electrical Engineer, Chris Jones, walk through the features of the Electrak HD and how it is stronger, smarter and sturdier than any linear actuator Thomson has developed to date. Onboard electronics can eliminate the need for standalone controls, higher power opens a wider range of hydraulic applications to electric conversion, and it meets the most extreme environmental acceptance tests

Electrak HD Linear Actuators Keep Spika Work Platforms in Sync

The synchronization option, available with Thomson Electrak HD linear actuators, enables Spika Design and Manufacturing to offer their customers work platforms with improved performance, functionality and safety.

Adding Even More Control and Power to Thomson Smart Linear Actuators