Actuator arms transfer the motion of actuators to the device they operate. They can be part of the internal mechanism or separate linkages, with fixed or articulated joints. Actuators range in size and use various driving mechanisms. Actuator arms can be short or long and may require support. The term can also refer to pick arms on computer hard drives.
An actuator arm is the part of any actuator that physically transfers the action of the actuator to the mechanism for which it is designed. In some cases, the actuator arm may be part of the internal mechanism of the actuator, or a separate linkage or series of links. Depending on the actuation range of motion, the arm will attach to the actuated part with a fixed or articulated joint. Actuator arms can be from a few inches to several feet long depending on the specific application. While unrelated, the term can also be used to describe the pick arms on a computer hard drive reading mechanism.
Actuators are used in industrial, manufacturing and domestic applications to remotely control a wide variety of machine functions. They can feature electric motors, hydraulic or pneumatic pressure, and electromagnetic force as driving mechanisms, and can range in size from tiny specimens that fit in the palm of a hand to massive industrial examples several feet long. Some actuators provide simple straight-line motion, while others have rotary or sophisticated variable outputs. All, however, share a common design feature in the linkages or actuator arm mechanisms used to transfer actuator energy to the operating device.
Most types of actuators consist of an internal driven mechanism that produces motion used as an actuating force. These mechanisms are usually enclosed in a sealed casing which will be mounted separately from the device it is to operate. An actuator arm is used to transfer the internal motion of the actuator to the secondary device. This part of the actuator acts as the physical link between the two and can be an extended part of the internal mechanism or a series of individual links.
The method used to join the actuator arm to the secondary device also depends on the design specifications of the system. If the entire range of motion involved is in a straight line, a fixed joint can be used. When the driven mechanism is moving through an arc or rotary outputs are involved, the joint may be of the ball and socket or yoke and pin type, allowing for jointed motion. In most cases, systems are designed to keep the actuator arms as short as possible. In some cases, however, this is not possible and very long actuator arms have to be used. Where these long arms are used they often pass through guides or bearings which support them and maintain their rigidity during actuation.
Another use of the term actuator arm is to describe computer disc drive extensions. They are used to hold player pickups and cover the storage disc. These arms are usually arranged in stacked groups and are made of thin, flexible metal.
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