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actuator
Sign in to saveAn actuator is a component of a machine that produces force, torque, or displacement, when an electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic input is supplied to it in a system (called an actuating system). The effect is usually produced in a controlled way. An actuator translates a stimulus such as an input signal into the required form of mechanical energy. It is a type of transducer. In simple terms, it is a "mover".
~16 min read
Encyclopedic overview
23 sectionsContents
- Types of actuators
- Mechanical
- Hydraulic
- Pneumatic
- Electric
- Electromechanical
- Electrohydraulic
- Rotary
- Linear
- Thermal
- Magnetic
- Soft actuators
- Examples and applications
- Examples of actuators
- Rotary to linear conversion
- Virtual instrumentation
- Performance metrics
- Force
- Speed
- Operating conditions
- Durability
- See also
- References
An actuator is a component of a machine that produces force, torque, or displacement, when an electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic input is supplied to it in a system (called an actuating system). The effect is usually produced in a controlled way. An actuator translates a stimulus such as an input signal into the required form of mechanical energy. It is a type of transducer. In simple terms, it is a "mover".
An actuator requires a control device (which provides control signal) and a source of energy. The control signal is relatively low in energy and may be voltage, electric current, pneumatic, or hydraulic fluid pressure, or even human power. In the electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic sense, it is a form of automation or automatic control.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “actuator” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.