Linear actuator / screw drive question

[JohnBot]

Hi all,

I’m attempting to make my own linear actuator / screw drive. The purpose will be to push a load of roughly 10 pounds. I’ve found some interesting supplies at Servo City.com –threaded rods, nuts, flanges, motors, etc.- but they are all on the smaller side. I think I’ll need to make something a bit bigger. Maybe ½ or inch diameter rod. Something like a ½-10 or a 1-8, I think anyway. I figure if I have a 1/2 inch-10 rod, and geared motor capable of about 300 RPM, under load I should have no problem driving the actuator about 12 or 18 inches in under a minute.

A couple question for anyone who has experience with this sort of thing.

1) Does anyone have a good source for threaded rods and accessories? One to two feet would be ideal.
2) Can anyone offer just some general advice, or websites, etc  on screw drives, actuators, and that sort of thing? –Like, how to estimate what diameter rod you need and what size motor for what kind of situation and load.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[waltr]

McMaster-Carr

[Artificer]

McMaster-Carr has everything.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#

Thomson linear will have any information you need on sizing.

http://www.thomsonlinear.com/website/com/eng/index.php

[dunk]

2) Can anyone offer just some general advice, or websites, etc  on screw drives, actuators, and that sort of thing? –Like, how to estimate what diameter rod you need and what size motor for what kind of situation and load.

try looking for web pages on home made CNC machines. those guys regularly do what you are asking.
here's a few to get you started:
http://www.thebackshed.com/cnc/RouterA7.asp
http://buildyourcnc.com/yleadscrew.aspx

my hunch is you won't need anything as big as 1/2 inch to move 10lb but it depends on what sort of friction the load encounters.


dunk.