$5 Linear Actuators from... Walmart?

erco

Car door lock actuators, surely 12V. Motor, rack & pinion assembly for under $5. Far superior to solenoids. Just saw these, they have other types on the page.

http://www.walmart.com/msharbor/ip/Galaxy-AC-1-Door-Lock-Actuator/24221719?page=seeAllReviews

Mike Cook

your loosing you edge! :>)

$2.99 on ebay..................

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Heavy-Duty-Power-Door-Lock-Actuator-Motor-2-Wire-12V-/151345177156?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item233ce02244

lardom

erco, Perfect timing. Now that my mobile 3-wheeler does what I want it to I think it 'needs' a gripper or a hook. I want a design that keeps the weight of the motors off of the 'arm'. I plan to experiment with some combination of actuator/crane.

Gadgetman

Hm...

The ones I've played with (tried to install Central locking in one of my previous cars) doesn't stay in position...
When actuated, they pull, then release the moment the power is disconnected. And they're not designed for continious use.
And they're 'full on', no adjustment by varying the voltage or anything.

Still, if you can accept those limits, they're pretty robust and should survive a long time of tinkering.

Don M

I used one on my water bottle rocket launcher I built a few years ago. Works good in this application.

Bill Henning

Good find!

For a much longer stroke, you can find used actuators for moving C band satellite dishes.

erco wrote: »

Car door lock actuators, surely 12V. Motor, rack & pinion assembly for under $5. Far superior to solenoids. Just saw these, they have other types on the page.

http://www.walmart.com/msharbor/ip/Galaxy-AC-1-Door-Lock-Actuator/24221719?page=seeAllReviews

erco

Mike Cook wrote: »

your loosing you edge! :>)

$2.99 on ebay..................

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Heavy-Duty-Power-Door-Lock-Actuator-Motor-2-Wire-12V-/151345177156?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item233ce02244

Outdone again! Confound you, Mike!

Edit: Mike's $2.99 price is an auction. Here's a BIN for $3.64: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-Auto-Plastic-Universal-Heavy-Duty-Power-Door-Lock-Actuator-Motor-2-Wire-12V-/291144737051?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43c994211b