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I’m working on a lift table project where I need four actuators to move at the same time, and I’m realizing it’s trickier than I expected. I tested them individually and they run smoothly, but once I tried pairing them, one of them kept creeping ahead by a few millimeters every cycle. After a dozen runs, the whole table ended up tilted. I’m sure I’m overlooking something basic, so if anyone’s dealt with syncing multiple actuators before, I’d really appreciate some guidance or tips to keep everything aligned.
I had the same issue when I attempted a synchronized setup for a hobby greenhouse vent system. Even slight speed differences add up fast if you don’t control them properly. What helped me was switching to a controller designed for multi-actuator sync and choosing models with matching specs from https://www.progressiveautomations.com/collections/linear-actuators . The key for me was making sure all the units had built-in feedback so the controller could constantly adjust their positions. It’s a bit more wiring, but it saved me a ton of headaches.
Whenever I’m working on mechanisms with multiple moving sections, I end up spending a lot of time checking the structure itself rather than the motors. Tiny differences in frame rigidity or mounting height can shift things just enough to cause strange behavior. Getting the hardware consistent before worrying about the electronics usually clears up a lot of the weird little problems that show up later.
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