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Compact Linear Actuators
| MAX Horiz Payload | 1,202 lb (5,350 N) |
| MAX Stroke | 1,000 mm (39 in) |
| MAX Speed | 1.25 m/s (4 ft/s) |
10 Products
Lead Screw and Belt-Driven Linear Actuators - SIMO UG Series
| MAX Horiz Payload | 360 lb (1,600 N) |
| MAX Stroke | 1,400 mm (55 in) |
| MAX Speed | 5.5 m/s (18 ft/s) |
17 Products
Ball Screw Linear Actuators with V-Roller Guides
| MAX Horiz Payload | 285 lb (1,268 N) |
| MAX Stroke | 2,710 mm (107 in) |
| MAX Speed | 0.8 m/s (2.62 ft/s) |
3 Products
Linear Actuators with Profile Rail Guides – MT Series
| Max Horiz Payload | 20,200 N (4,541 lb) |
| Max stroke | 6,700mm (263.78 in) |
24 Products
Ball Screw Linear Actuators with Profile Rail Guides | MUK Series
| MAX Horiz Payload | 2,517 lb (11,200 N) |
| MAX Stoke | 2,710 mm (107 mm) |
| MAX Speed | 0.8 m/s (2.6 ft/s) |
3 Products
Plain Linear Bearing Slide Actuators
| MAX Horiz Payload | 18,750 lb (83,400 N) |
| MAX Stroke | 3,454 mm (136 in) |
| MAX Speed | 0.457 m/s (1.5 ft/s) |
42 Products
Ball Screw Linear Actuators with NEMA Motors
| MAX Horizontal Payload | 2.144 kN (482 lb) |
| MAX Stroke | 1650 mm (65 inches) |
| MAX Rotational Speed | Up to 5,000* RPM |
| * For faster options, contact factory |
62 Products
Lead Screw Linear Actuators – External, Captive & Non-Captive
| MAX Horizontal Payload | 1.16 kN (260 lb) |
| MAX Stroke | 1650 mm (65 inches) |
| MAX Rotational Speed | Up to 2,500* RPM |
| * For faster options, contact factory |
26 Products
Lead Screw Linear Actuator with a NEMA 8 motor, a Round Anti-Backlash Nut, 6mm screw diameter, 1mm lead, and a length of 100mm. The screw is made from precision-rolled 300 Series Stainless Steel and coated with PTFE to prevent flaking. The Constant Force™ Anti-Backlash nut uses a spring to maintain..
$212.91
Non-Captive Lead Screw Linear Actuator 250mm long with a NEMA 17 Motor, Round Anti-Backlash Nut, 6mm screw diameter, 5mm lead, and the screw is made from precision-rolled 300 Series Stainless Steel and coated with PTFE to prevent flaking. The Round Constant Force™ Anti-Backlash nut uses a spring to maintain uniform..
$179.53
Non-Captive Lead Screw Linear Actuator 250mm long with a NEMA 17 Motor, Round Anti-Backlash Nut, 6mm screw diameter, 2mm lead, and the screw is made from precision-rolled 300 Series Stainless Steel and coated with PTFE to prevent flaking. The Round Constant Force™ Anti-Backlash nut uses a spring to maintain uniform..
$179.53
Lead Screw Linear Actuator - LSR0601T-0250-NCF171-NNN-NNN - Non-Captive NEMA17 Motor - Length: 250mm
$179.53
Non-Captive Lead Screw Linear Actuator 250mm long with a NEMA 17 Motor, Round Anti-Backlash Nut, 6mm screw diameter, 1mm lead, and the screw is made from precision-rolled 300 Series Stainless Steel and coated with PTFE to prevent flaking. The Round Constant Force™ Anti-Backlash nut uses a spring to maintain uniform..
$179.53
Non-Captive Lead Screw Linear Actuator 200mm long with a NEMA 14 Motor, Round Anti-Backlash Nut, 6mm screw diameter, 5mm lead, and the screw is made from precision-rolled 300 Series Stainless Steel and coated with PTFE to prevent flaking. The Round Constant Force™ Anti-Backlash nut uses a spring to maintain uniform..
$191.99
Non-Captive Lead Screw Linear Actuator 200mm long with 2mm lead size, a NEMA 14 Motor, Round Anti-Backlash Nut, 6mm screw diameter, and the screw is made from precision-rolled 300 Series Stainless Steel and coated with PTFE to prevent flaking. The Round Constant Force™ Anti-Backlash nut uses a spring to maintain..
$191.99
Lead Screw Linear Actuator - LSR18050T-08.00-NCF111-NNN-NNN Length: 8" NEMA 11 Motor Non-Captive
$208.69
Non-Captive Lead Screw Linear Actuator 8 inches long with a NEMA 11 Motor, Round Anti-Backlash Nut, 3/16 inch screw diameter, 0.5" lead, with the screw made from precision-rolled 300 Series Stainless Steel and coated with PTFE to prevent flaking. The Round Constant Force™ Anti-Backlash nut uses a spring to maintain..
$208.69
Lead Screw Linear Actuator - LSR18005T-08.00-NCF111-NNN-NNN Length: 8" Non-Captive NEMA 11 Motor
$208.69
Non-Captive Lead Screw Linear Actuator with a NEMA 11 Motor. The Lead Screw has a Round Anti-Backlash Nut with a 3/16 inch diameter, 0.05" lead, and a length of 8 inches, and is made from precision-rolled 300 Series Stainless Steel, coated with PTFE to prevent flaking. The Round Constant Force™..
$208.69
A linear actuator is a mechanical device that integrates a linear guide with a drive mechanism (such as a screw, belt, or piston) and a power source to convert rotary or fluid power into controlled straight-line motion, enabling precise positioning of loads. They are typically classified as pneumatic, hydraulic, electric, or mechanical, with electric and mechanical designs increasingly favored for their higher positioning accuracy, repeatability, cleanliness, and ease of system integration. At PBC Linear, our engineers specialize in mechanical and electric linear actuators, building them around high-performance drive systems such as ball screws, lead screws, and belt drives, in both NEMA motor-driven and hand-crank assemblies.
Belt-driven actuators support long strokes and high speeds with minimal maintenance; ball screw-driven designs provide high accuracy and load capacity for demanding positioning; and lead screw-driven actuators offer a cost-effective, quiet solution with options such as anti-backlash nuts for improved repeatability. These systems are available in a wide range of configurations, including multiple screw diameters, lead sizes, NEMA frame options, and actuator lengths to meet specific force, speed, and travel requirements. Carriage guidance is provided by either self-lubricating Gliding Surface Technology for low-maintenance operation in harsh environments such as with dirt, heat and vibration, or ball bearing profile rails for higher moment capacity and cantilevered loads. Together these configurations span applications from miniature to heavy-duty systems, supporting loads up to 83,400 N (18,750 lb) and strokes up to 6,000mm (236 in).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a linear actuator?
A linear actuator is a device that produces controlled straight-line motion by converting rotational or input force into linear movement. It is commonly used in automation, machinery, and positioning systems to move or position loads.
How does a linear actuator work?
A linear actuator works by converting motion from a motor, screw, or belt drive into linear movement. As the drive mechanism rotates or moves, it advances a carriage or rod along a guided path to produce controlled motion.
What are the main types of linear actuators?
The main types of linear actuators are electric, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic. Electric and mechanical actuators are often preferred for their precision, cleanliness, and ease of integration, while pneumatic and hydraulic actuators are typically used for higher force applications.
What is the difference between a lead screw and a ball screw actuator?
Lead screw actuators use sliding contact between the screw and nut, making them quieter and more cost-effective, while ball screw actuators use rolling elements to reduce friction, providing higher efficiency, accuracy, and load capacity.
What is the difference between belt-driven and screw-driven actuators?
Belt-driven actuators are designed for long travel distances and higher speeds with lower cost and maintenance, while screw-driven actuators provide greater accuracy, stiffness, and load capacity for precise positioning applications.
When should a linear actuator be used instead of a cylinder?
Linear actuators are preferred when precise positioning, repeatability, and controlled motion are required, while pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders are typically used for simple extension and retraction with higher force but less control.
Do linear actuators require maintenance?
Maintenance depends on the design. Screw-driven actuators may require periodic lubrication, while some systems use self-lubricating materials or low-maintenance designs to reduce service requirements.
What factors should be considered when selecting a linear actuator?
Key factors include load capacity, speed, stroke length, required precision, environmental conditions, mounting configuration, and the type of drive mechanism used.
What provides guidance in a linear actuator?
Guidance in a linear actuator is provided by linear bearings or guide systems that support the carriage and maintain alignment. These may include sliding-contact guides for low maintenance or rolling-element guides for higher load and rigidity.
What are linear actuators used for?
Linear actuators are used in applications such as automation, material handling, packaging equipment, medical devices, and positioning systems where controlled linear motion is required.
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