What factors do you guys consider when choosing stroke length?
I've been struggling to figure out the right stroke length for a linear actuator I want to use in a fold-down bed mechanism in my van conversion. The space is really tight, and I'm worried I might miscalculate and end up with a system that jams or doesn’t extend fully. I’m considering a 12-inch stroke, but I’ve seen some people use 6 or even 20 depending on their setup. What factors do you guys consider when choosing stroke length?
Discussion
I've never built a bed lift, but I ran into similar issues with a tilting solar panel project. Had to test with wooden spacers just to visualize what stroke I’d need before ordering anything. It's always surprising how theory doesn’t line up with real-life fit until you test it physically.
I’ve built a lift-up storage system for my camper van, and getting the stroke right was tricky at first. It’s not just about how far you want something to move, but also about how much space you have when the actuator is fully retracted. I originally bought an actuator with a 10-inch stroke, thinking it was perfect, but I didn’t account for the extra space it needs to retract fully. Ended up swapping it for an 8-inch and redesigning part of the frame.
Also, the weight of the item you're lifting and the angle of installation can affect how much travel you really need. If you're mounting vertically or using a hinge mechanism, geometry matters a lot more than people think. For example, an actuator working at an angle might give you less effective movement unless you do the math (or at least mock it up).
If you’re still deciding, I’d recommend looking through options at acutuator https://progressiveautomations.com.au/pages/actuators. They list detailed specs, and what I really like is they offer multiple stroke lengths in the same model, which saved me during my trial-and-error phase. It’s good to see the exact measurements and not just guess.