how to drive an linear actuator

[mariuszoll]

Hi,

I have to drive a linear actuator on my project wit a PIC18F2620.
I have never worked with motors.
Could you give me please some pieces of advise how to control it?

Thank you.

 

[barry]

It depends on the actuator. Is it a screw drive? Stepper motor? DC Motor? 12 Volts? 400000000 Volts? Electro-pneumatically contolled?

 

[mariuszoll]

It is a DC Motor, supplied at 12V.

 

[barry]

This is still a pretty vague question. Is there some kind of feedback? An optical encoder? A potentiometer? Limit switches? Why don't you tell us SOMETHING about your linear actuator instead of expecting us to read your mind?

 

[ZASto]

Linear actuator of which kind?
Gate opener / Sat dish positioner / ...

Ya know my crystal ball has not returned, yet, from polishing

 

[mariuszoll]

Hi,

here is the type of the linear actuator that I intend to use for a gate opener application:

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/electric-linear-actuators/7643474/

First of all, is it ok? Or do you suggest me something else?

Thank you.

 

[barry]

I quit. You give us NO INFORMATION!!!! How much does your gate weigh? How fast do you need to open it? How are you mechanically connecting it to your gate? Are you opening the gate vertically or horizontally? Are you using feedback?

Your question is: "is it ok?" The answer is: "It's absolutely perfect."

 

[mariuszoll]

I have no information about the gate weight at this moment. The gate is intended to open horizontally. From the information that I have the actuator will be connected with screws to the gate, and the control ECU will be put on one of the gate's pillar. It will be a RF system on 433Mhz.
Transmitter has 2 buttons, for open and close.
Receiver is the control ECU of the gate. The request is that in 15sec the door to be completely open.
I have no information about feedback, but I want to develop a very stable system, that's why I released this topic.

 

[ZASto]

The actuator that you linked here will extend/retract ~240mm in 15 sec.
Take a look at the datasheet which you can find on the linked RS page, you have everything there.