That is right, you can build a servo with almost bare hands. We don’t need to say how useful a linear actuator is in every house or factory. This is the perfect way to go with lifting heavy weights and making everything you need move vertically or horizontally. Today we will tell you how to save on a lot of money and make the linear actuator with a servo using the minimum of materials you can find in your garage. Let us start this unique article.
What will you need to make linear actuator?
Of course, a brass tube (pick the diameter for your specific project), a styrene tube, a hobby servo, the studding, the washers, nuts, 5 minute epoxy, some grease, cyanoacrylate, cables and another tube, but heat-shrunk.
Steps to take
You will need a drill from the tools to make wholes in servo. By the way, this is our first step. Be extremely careful and accurate, otherwise, you may have to use another servo. The whole for the special thread must be below the center of rotation.
The second step is to calculate the shift that is to rotate. Make sure it will half-fixed, do it doesn’t rotate too free.
With the help of the dremmel and an abrasive wheel tool to replicate the tip of the servo’s potentiometer on that end. Remember that you are put the thread through the gear of the servo the way you did with the potentiometer.
Next thing you want to do is screwing the nuts ¼ a centimeter down the length. Then connect the washers.
Now you are ready to finally insert the thread. Adjust everything carefully so your motor worked and the cover of the servo closed properly. Try to avoid the pressure between the nut assembly and the case of the servo. The more time you will spend on adjustments, the more years the actuator will endure.
Having finished with that, you are to take the washers out, strip down the servo and use cyanoacrylate to connect the nut and washers. 6 minutes for it to finally settle and we are moving to the next step.
Let’s get another nut 10-12 mm down the end of the thread and make a mix. Place it in the middle of the nuts and put the second one in place. Adjust everything before applying any glue. You’d better do it overnight, as there are 6 hours to wait before doing anything else. Or just watch 6 series of Game of Thrones in your garage. It’s up to you.
The next steps are to connect everything else with the help of the thread. Make wholes where it is necessary. With the help of the heat put the tube with the smaller diameter inside the bigger one. With the help of pliers insert the brass tube then.
Calculate the necessary length of the cylinder and the length of the thread before starting your project. Put the shrinking tube over the cylinder and cut everything unnecessary. Use the drill again to dispose of them. Plug the motor cables inside in that servo. Use the glue-gun and, again, the heat-shrinking tube. Don’t forget to fixate everything with the help of the screws.
The actuator you are holding in your hands right now is able to lift up to 11 kg of weights. Congratulations! You finally made it!
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