Thomson Industries creates motorized lead screw actuator for high-precision applications

August 30, 2018 – Thomson Industries, a manufacturer of mechanical motion control solutions, has expanded its line of stepper motor linear actuators with models featuring built-in anti-rotational guidance.

The load of a typical stepper motor linear actuator attaches to a nut that rides back and forth as the screw turns. Translating the rotational motion of the motorized lead screw into the axial motion needed to move the load back and forth requires restraining the nut. 

Thomson’s new motorized lead screw actuator (MLA) design surrounds the shaft with an aluminum cover tube with moulded internal splines that lock onto the nut to keep it from turning. This design also features an integrated bushing that enables it to withstand small radial and moment loads.

The MLA is suited for space-constrained, force-sensitive applications requiring shorter strokes that must be repeated with high precision. Ideal applications have stroke lengths shorter than 2.5 inches; have loads lighter than 200 lbf on various motor sizes; and require speeds below 20 in/s.

Thomson MLA stepper motor linear actuators are available immediately for NEMA 8, 11, 14, 17 and 23 motor frame sizes in single or double stacks; with many motor winding options. Linear resolution options range from 0.063 to 7.5 µin of linear travel per step.