How do you measure the dynamic loading of a linear actuator?

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1

For example,
I have sourced a non-brand actuator and specs are not provided. How do I find out its dynamic behavior.

I want to find out at specific loading, the velocity of it. The final output will be a graph of loading vs velocities.

I am thinking of making a testing fixture to vary the loading manually and record the corresponding velocity. After getting the results and use them to plot.

Is this the only way to plot the graph?

Are there any measuring devices that allow to record varying loading vs varying velocities while the actuator in test is moving? This way, after extruding the actuator once, I can graph the relationships without having to repeat with different loadings and record the velocities.

The force gauge I have now does not allow movement of my actuator in test. So the measured force will just be a static loading.

Please help. At least let me know if you were me, what would you have done?

Thanks

2

If you have no specs, then doing real tests and plotting the results is best. Not however that asking the actuator to move then physically preventing it will burn the motor. You need to first get an idea of the actuator’s maximum load without forcing it too much (you can do this with a bucket and water, sand, known weights etc). Remember that if the actuator is heating up to let if cool off.