HLS12 linear actuation product

The HLS12-10050 is a PWM-controlled electromechanical linear actuator made by Hitec Commercial Solutions, offered as an HLS12 series push-pull actuator for uncrewed systems, robotics and industrial mechanisms. It has a stroke of 100 mm, a 50:1 gear ratio and a 5 mm lead screw, and it is described by the maker as suited to longer-stroke applications that need fast transit.

The key figures are compact. The body measures 152 x 15 x 18 mm and the mass is 56 g, so the actuator fits narrow bays and tubes in airframes and payload mechanisms. Repeatability is plus or minus 0.5 mm and the maximum side load on the extended rod is 1.53 kgf (15 N), which tells the integrator that the load should be applied along the rod axis and that guides or hinges must take lateral forces. The datasheet table, listed at 7.4 V, gives a no-load current of 130 mA. At its maximum-force point the actuator lifts 2.7 kgf (26.64 N) at 8.2 mm/s while drawing 490 mA. The peak-power point is 2.1 kgf (20.59 N) at 17.3 mm/s and 370 mA, and the maximum-efficiency point is 1.2 kgf (12.11 N) at 23.5 mm/s and 250 mA. These points help size the supply and choose the load at which the mechanism should normally operate.

The motor is a cored metal brush type with a digital circuit and metal gears. The housing is engineering plastic with an aluminium pipe, and the 5 mm lead screw is stated as durable in long-duty-cycle industrial use. The operating voltage range is 4.0 to 8.4 V, so the actuator can run directly from a regulated servo bus.

Control uses a conventional PWM servo signal. Full travel is achieved with a 1050 to 1950 microsecond input, which means it works with standard radio receivers and flight controllers without extended-rate programming. The actuator keeps its position when power is removed. The maker lists programmable functions: end-point adjustments, direction, fail safe, dead band, speed reduction, soft start rate, overload protection, data save and load, and program reset. They are set with the DPC-20 or HFP-30 programmers, and one programmer serves any number of actuators. A CAD file and a datasheet are available from the maker, and its sales team supplies case, gear and horn sets as spare parts.

Mounting is by the end fittings of the actuator, and shorter-stroke versions of the series (50 mm and 30 mm) and higher-force versions of the 100 mm stroke (HLS12-100100, HLS12-100210 and HLS12-100380) exist if a different stroke or force is needed.

Typical applications are small payload release and latch mechanisms, control-surface or flap drives on small uncrewed aircraft, camera and sensor positioning, robotics and animatronics, and industrial mechanisms. The maker does not state airworthiness or environmental certification for this model.