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Overview

Standard Stepper Motor Linear Actuators

Actuator (MLA)  

Actuator (MLA)

MLAs are a fully housed solution in which the motion is taken care of for you - simply determine stroke length, linear travel per step or revolution, and precision level to select an appropriate model.

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Rotating Screw (MLS)  

Rotating Screw (MLS)

MLS assemblies actuate by having the stepper motor rotate a lead screw and translate a load that is attached to the lead nut.

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Rotating Nut (MLN)  

Rotating Nut (MLN)

MLN assemblies actuate by rotating a nut within the stepper motor body. Motion is achieved by constraining the motor and translating a load attached to the lead screw or constraining the lead screw and translating a load attached to the stepper motor.

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Custom Stepper Motor Linear Actuator Options

Stepper Motor Linear Actuators Customization

Optimize your design with a custom stepper motor linear actuator solution.

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Combining cutting edge-motor and lead screw technologies, pre-engineered stepper motor linear actuators deliver compact linear motion to high-precision applications.

Why Thomson Stepper Motor Linear Actuators?

Thomson offers three basic configurations – rotating screw (MLS), rotating nut (MLN) and actuator (MLA). The open architecture rotating screw and rotating nut motorized lead screws suit applications where external guidance is present or a high level of design flexibility is required, while the closed assembly of the motorized lead screw actuator is ideal to further simplify the design process and remove requirements for external guidance.

Customization Options

Thomson routinely collaborates with original equipment manufacturers globally to solve problems, boost efficiency and enhance the value passed on to their customers. Our technology and application experience can be harnessed to help you go beyond standard products to fit the exact needs on your next product.

Where Can You Get Started?

Thomson provides extensive online resources to help you no matter where you may be in the purchase decision process:
Webinar Recordings Webinar Recordings
Training Training
Technical Articles Technical Articles
FAQ FAQ

Technical Articles

  • Implementing Anti-Rotational Guidance for Stepper Motor Linear Actuators

    Integrating lead screws with stepper motors is a simple and cost-effective method of getting precise linear motion. But achieving that precision requires anti-rotational guidance, which must either be added externally by the user or designed in by the manufacturer. Determining which option makes sense for you requires an analysis of your need for a guidance system and weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. 

    Learn More

  • Reduce Your Linear Motion Assemblies to a Single Component with Motorized Lead Screw Actuators

    When it comes to specifying linear motion within a machine, system designers have many options from which to choose. Making the right choice can impact the ease of installation, footprint and cost of operation. A common driving mechanism for achieving linear motion is a stepper motor and externally supported lead screw-based assembly. A simpler, easier-to-install approach, however, is to select a drive mechanism with built-in guidance and support, thus removing the need for external components that would normally perform these functions and the complexity that comes with them.

    Learn More

Stepper Motor Linear Actuator Specifications (Inch Units):

S = Rotating Screw (MLS), N = Rotating Nut (MLN), A = Actuator (MLA)
Linear Travel /
Full Step (μ in.)		 Lead
(mm)		 Lead Designator
(mm)		 Motor
MLxX8 MLx11 MLx14, MLx17 MLx23
Diameter Designator [hundredths of in. diameter]
18 18 25 25 31 37 31 37 43 50
0.063² 0.013 0013     S,A¹³ S,N,A¹³ S¹³ S¹³ S,N¹³ S,N,A¹³   S¹³
0.125² 0.025 0025     S,A¹³ S,N,A¹³   S¹   S,N,A¹   S¹³
0.157 0.031 0031     S,A S,N,A   S¹   S,N,A¹    
0.165 0.033 0033                   S¹
0.179 0.036 0036     S,A¹³ S,N,A¹³            
0.200 0.040 0040           S¹   S,N,A¹    
0.209 0.042 0042     S,A¹³ S,N,A¹³ S¹³ S¹³ S,N¹³ S,N,A¹³    
0.250 0.050 0050 S,A S,N S,A¹ S,N,A¹   S¹   S,N,A¹ S¹³ S¹³
0.313 0.063 0063     S,A¹ S,N,A¹   S   S,N,A   S¹
0.357 0.071 0071     S,A¹ S,N,A¹            
0.394 0.079 0079     S,A¹ S,N,A¹   S¹   S,N,A¹    
0.417 0.083 0083         S S¹ S,N S,N,A¹    
0.490 0.098 0098                   S¹
0.500 0.100 0100 S,A S,N       S   S,N,A   S¹
0.591 0.118 0118     S,A¹ S,N,A¹            
0.625 0.125 0125 S,A¹ S,N¹ S,A S,N,A   S¹   S,N,A¹ S¹  
0.787 0.157 0157     S,A¹ S,N,A¹            
0.833 0.167 0.167         S S S,N S,N,A    
0.960 0.192 0.192     S,A¹ S,N,A¹            
1.000 0.200 0200 S,A S,N S,A¹ S,N,A¹   S¹   S,N,A¹   S¹
1.180 0.236 0236                 S¹  
1.250 0.250 0250     S,A¹ S,N,A¹ S S S,N S,N,A S¹ S¹
1.500 0.300 0.300           S¹   S,N,A¹    
1.665 0.333 0.333 S,A¹³ S,N¹³                
1.875 0.375 0.375 S,A¹³ S,N¹³       S¹   S,N,A¹    
2.000 0.400 0.400 S,A S,N                
2.500 0.500 0500 S,A¹³ S,N¹³ S,A S,N,A S S S,N S,N,A S¹ S¹
3.750 0.750 0750     S,A¹³ S,N,A¹³   S¹³   S,N,A¹³    
4.000 0.800 0.800                   S¹³
5.000 1.000 1000         S³ S³ S,N³ S,N,A³   S¹³
6.000 1.200 1.200           S¹³   S,N,A¹³    
7.500 1.500 1.500                   S¹³

1. Some leads may not be available in high-performance nut material, rotating nut (MLN) configurations or some anti-backlash nuts. Contact Thomson for more detail.
2. Fine-pitched lead screws may have substantially lower load capacities compared to traditional lead screws.
3. Lead screw not available in precision grade accuracy (P)

Stepper Motor Linear Actuator Specifications (Metric Units):

S = Rotating Screw (MLS), N = Rotating Nut (MLN), A = Actuator (MLA)
Linear Travel /
Full Step (mm)		 Lead
(mm)		 Lead Designator²
(mm)		 Motor
MLxX8 MLx11 MLx14, MLx17 MLx23
Diameter Designator
M04 M04 M06 M06 M08 M10 M08 M10 M12
3 0.6 006 (0024)     S,A¹ S,N,A¹          
5 1.0 010 (0039) S S,N S,A S,N,A          
6 1.2 012 (0047)     S,A¹ S,N,A¹          
10 2.0 020 (0079)         S S S,N S,N,A S¹
15 3.0 030 (0118)           S   S,N,A S¹
20 4.0 040 (0157) S S,N     S   S,N   S¹
25 5.0 050 (0197)           S   S,N,A  
30 6.0 060 (0236)     S,A S,N,A   S¹   S,N,A¹ S¹
40 8.0 080 (0315) S³ S,N³     S   S,N    
50 10.0 100 (0394)           S   S,N,A S¹
60 12.0 120 (0472)     S,A S,N,A S S¹ S,N S,N,A¹  
75 15.0 150 (0591)                 S¹
80 16.0 160 (0630)                 S¹
90 18.0 180 (0709)     S,A¹³ S,N,A¹³          
100 20.0 200 (0787)         S³ S S,N³ S,N,A  
125 25.0 250 (0984)                 S¹³
175 35.0 350 (1378)           S¹³   S,N,A¹³  
225 45.0 450 (1772)                 S¹³

1. Some leads may not be available in high-performance nut material, rotating nut (MLN) configurations or some anti-backlash nuts. Contact Thomson for more detail.
2. Lead designations for MLA are shown in parenthesis.
3. Lead screw not available in precision grade accuracy (P)

Stepper Motor Linear Actuator Highlights

  • Increased Torque Density
  • Improved Efficiency
  • Rotating Screw, Rotating Nut or Actuator
  • Custom Sizes/Leads Available
  • Taper Lock Advantage
  • Reduced Noise
  • Inch or Metric Versions

Stepper Motor Linear Actuator Applications

  • Medical Devices
  • X-Y Stages
  • 3D Printing
  • HVAC Control Valves
  • Pipetting Devices
  • CNC Machines
  • Fluid/Syringe Pumps
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CAD Models

Choose Your CAD Model:

MLA

MLA CAD model

MLS

MLS CAD model

MLN

MLN CAD model

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