Glideforce LACT18-500AL Industrial-Duty Linear Actuator with Acme Drive: 250kgf, 18" Stroke, 0.66"/s, 12V

Overview

The Industrial-Duty (ID) series of Glideforce linear actuators by Concentric International (formerly Iowa Export-Import) are powerful 12V DC gearmotors that use a worm drive to move a shaft back and forth along its length. The worm drive ensures that the shaft will hold its position even when unpowered. Versions are available with an acme screw drive (part number LACTx-500Ax), which can move loads up to 250 kgf [500 lbs or 2500 N] and withstand static loads up to 450 kgf [1000 lbs or 4500 N], or an efficient ball screw drive (part number LACTx-1000Bx), which can move loads up to 450 kgf [1000 lbs or 4500 N] and withstand static loads up to 1360 kgf [3000 lbs or 13,600 N].

Two limit switches safely stop the motor at either end of its range, while integrated diodes allow it to reverse direction after reaching a limit point if the supplied voltage is reversed, and a built-in overload clutch protects the actuator from excessive dynamic loads. The actuators have an all-steel frame and extension tube, and the entire case is sealed to protect against dust and water (rated IP65).

These actuators are available in a variety of stroke lengths, from 4″ to 24″, and with optional potentiometers that are linked to the shaft position, for use in feedback systems:

Heavy-duty mounting brackets made from machined aluminium or stamped steel are available for attaching the actuators to a structure; two are required for each actuator. A mounting clevis is also available for converting either actuator end into a clevis-style.

Details for item #3609

• Nominal stroke length: 18″ [45.7 cm]
• Actual stroke length: 17.56″ [44.6 cm]
• Retracted length: 29.02″ [73.7 cm] (from mounting hole to mounting hole)
• Extended length: 46.57″ [118.3 cm] (from mounting hole to mounting hole)
• Weight: 13 lb [6 kg]
• Gear ratio: 20:1 (standard)
• Acme screw drive
• Rated dynamic load capacity: 550 lbs [250 kgf or 2500 N]
• Maximum static load: 1000 lbs [450 kgf or 4500 N]
• This version does not have a feedback potentiometer

ID series features and specifications

The following specifications apply to all Glideforce ID series linear actuators with the standard 20:1 gear ratio:

• Nominal operating voltage: 12 V
• Speed at 12 V, no load: 0.66 in/s [16.8 mm/s]
• Speed at 12 V, max load: 0.56 in/s [14.3 mm/s]
• Standard preset limit switches at both ends of stroke
• Overload clutch
• All steel frame and extension tube
  • Aluminium gearbox housing
  • Ball screw version has stainless steel extension tube
• All metal gears
• Noise level: ≤ 70 dB
• Mounting hole diameter: 1/2″ [13 mm]
• Working temperature: -13°F [-25°C] to 149°F [65°C]
• IP rating: IP65 (total dust protection, water resistant)

For more details, see the ID series datasheet (1MB pdf).

Dimensions

A dimension diagram of the ID linear actuators are shown below. It applies both to versions with limit switches (500AL and 1000BL) and to versions with limit switches and potentiometers (500APL and 1000BPL), though note that the actual stroke length is affected by the kind of drive screw (acme or ball). For more detailed information, including the retracted and extended lengths of each version, see the datasheet.

Using the actuator

To test-drive the actuator, simply connect a power source of up to 12 V to the motor leads. Reversing the applied voltage will reverse the direction of motion. A motor controller or motor driver is required for electronic speed and direction control. We recommend our Jrk 12v12 Motor Controllers for use with the feedback actuators and the Pololu Simple Motor Controller 18v25 for controlling the actuators without feedback, though many of our other motor controllers and motor drivers are capable of powering this actuator.

These actuators have a stall current of approximately 50 A at 12 V, but they will, on average, draw far less than this when used within their load ratings. They draw around 2.4 A with no load and can exceed 13 A at their maximum rated dynamic load. Note, however, that the actuators can briefly draw close to their full stall current when abruptly started or on a sudden change of direction. Such current spikes can be dampened if you take steps to limit the acceleration of the actuator (many of our motor controllers offer optional acceleration limiting).

Actuator leads

The ID linear actuators have a 10″ (25 cm) cable ending in unterminated,stripped wires. The thick red and black wires are the motor leads. Actuators with feedback potentiometers have three additional thinner wires: white, yellow, and blue. White and yellow connect to the two ends of the 10 kΩ potentiometer, and blue connects to the wiper. If you connect white to ground and yellow to VCC, you can then read the voltage on blue to determine the position of the actuator (the voltage will increase from close to 0 V to close to VCC as the actuator goes from fully retracted to fully extended). The picture below shows the end of the cable for an ID linear actuator with feedback:

These actuators are not compatible with our extension cable for LD/MD linear actuators.

Other Glideforce linear actuator options

Glide force ID, MD, and LD linear actuators with 6″ strokes next to their corresponding aluminium and steel mounting brackets.

We carry a variety of Glideforce linear actuators, from the light-duty LD series through the industrial-duty ID series. The table below shows our full offering of these linear actuators:

Dimensions

General specifications

Notes:

1

This represents the maximum in-rush current when starting a stationary actuator. These actuators are NOT intended to be stalled, and they will not stall as long as maximum load ratings are respected.

2

This is a dynamic load rating. The actuator is rated to withstand 1000 lbs when not moving.

3

Or one minute of continuous operation in four minutes.

4

Total dust protection, water resistant.