Anyone else dealt with this before?

[marnieswan]

Hey folks, I’ve been working on a compact drawer mechanism for my workshop bench using a micro linear actuator, and I'm running into an issue where the actuator just stops mid-stroke without completing the motion. I thought maybe it's a power problem, but I’m using a 12V supply that matches the specs. Could this be some kind of internal limit switch issue? Anyone else dealt with this before?
 

[LarryCrow1992]

Yeah, actually I had a similar issue a few months back when I was automating a small window vent using one of the PA-07 micro actuators. In my case, the problem turned out to be the internal limit switches. These actuators come with pre-set limit switches that automatically cut power once the stroke reaches the end point — but sometimes, if the actuator hits too much resistance or if there’s a slight misalignment in your setup, the limit can be triggered prematurely. Also, double-check if your power supply is delivering consistent current under load — I once had a "12V" PSU that sagged to 10.5V under pressure, and the actuator would just freeze. You might want to take a look at this page too — they break down how these actuators are built and how to pick the right one based on your use case micro linear actuator: https://www.progressiveautomations.ca/pages/micro-linear-actuators. It helped me figure out a better configuration for the load I needed.

[KarlLoder66]

Totally following this — I’ve never thought much about voltage drops until my first project failed halfway through. Micro actuators are tricky that way. Curious to hear what fix works for you, RoboHobbyist!