How To Category - Progressive Automations Blog

The world of electronics can be fun and exciting, but often it can seem quite daunting when you are looking at a wiring diagram and have no idea where to start. Moreover, understanding the code that goes on to a microcontroller can be confusing if you are new to this. Thankfully, we are here to give you the information you need to start your learning journey! [cta] [cta-content] Browse our range of microcontrollers to pair with our actuators! ...

Power. Wattage. Energy Consumption. All these terms can be used when discussing electric linear actuator power consumption. But what exactly do they mean and how do you calculate the power consumption of a 12V DC motor or any motor/linear actuator? That is exactly what we intend to show you in this article.

The following article is an extract from our Actuator Testing Guide eBook, which was created to give you a comprehensive overview on what you need to do before you implement an electric actuator into your system. This guide will ensure you find the right actuator solution for your application and aim to mitigate any issues that may arise from choosing an incompatible actuator. The main guide is covered over seven chapters in the eBook, and alo...

Solar power is one of the most accessible types of renewable energy and is rapidly increasing in efficiency and affordability. In this project, we will show you how we used our PA-14 Mini Linear Actuator to follow the sun through a single axis of motion. Doing this increases the power yield of the solar panel by up to 25% more than a fixed solar panel. In this article, we will show you how we put together our very own Portable Single-Axis Sol...

Sometimes when we are creating a project using a linear actuator, we are trying to solve a problem that could not be solved without the advantages that these mechanisms offer. Other times, we are trying to make a certain task easier by automating it. But every now and then, we will create something just because we can.  This is one of those projects. [cta] [cta-content] Take your linear actuator control to the next level with our Arduino micro...

Welcome to another Progressive Automations’ technical blog! Today, we will be outlining how an Arduino can communicate with our PA-04-HS. A hall effect sensor is an electronic component that allows for precise control of a linear actuator. It is usually positioned within the gearbox alongside a magnetic disc. As the linear actuator moves, the magnetic disc rotates, which creates a magnetic field that passes through the hall effect sensor. This...