Questions about building a very slow linear actuator for research

Help & Support Robot Parts
1

Hello,

I am trying to build a simple motorized system for research I am doing and have a couple questions about the idea I have so far. I have almost no experience with designing and building electronic systems so I could really use some advice.

What I need is a system that can push/drag a glass cover slide along a surface at a very slow speed (about 0.3 μm/s). I believe a linear actuator would be best for this job, and after searching different types I believe the Firgelli L12-S (firgelli.com/Uploads/L12_datasheet.pdf) will suit my needs. Additionally I will need a voltage regulator to control the speed of the motor; Firgelli manufactures a linear slide 10 kΩ potentiometer that I believe will do the trick. To complete the system I think that I’ll only need a switch and a power supply, which I plan to get in a kit that comes with connectors and wires and such.

So my questions are:

  1. Will what I described make a functioning motor system or am I missing any components? Like I said, I have little experience with robotics and am trying to figure it out as I go.
  2. Will it be possible to make the speed as slow as I need it to be? And if it isn’t do you have any suggestions for building a system that can do this?

Please help!

2

We do not have any linear actuator systems which can move in the micrometer range reliably, since at those speeds, static friction prevents motion. Note too that the accuracy of the L12 is in the 0.1-0.3mm range, far beyond what you need. In hobby robotics there is not much need for actuators which travel at that speed, so we have not done much research to find companies that manufacture this type of actuator. Perhaps a heavily geared DC motor connected to a lead screw and traveller? The electronics / controller will depend on the actuator you find. It would need to be very well made.