How can I control a Firgelli L12-50-100-06-P Linear Acutator Using MatLab

I have a Firgelli L12 6V 50mm stroke analog miniature linear actuator and I am trying to figure out how to extend and retract the arm using MatLab commands and an Arduino Mega 2560.

The actuator is an analog device, so I was thinking some simple analogWrite commands should work, but I haven't been able to have any success thus far.

Would it be as simple as attaching the positive pin to an analogin pin on the arduino and the negative pin to ground then use analogwrite?

Any ideas or code would be helpful. Thanks.

Answer 1

[Daniel langstaff]

You cannot control this device using an analog signal. It works with a pulse width modulated signal that you can get from the digital out using the servoWrite command. First attach the servo to the correct pin using the servoAttach command, then you should have full control. This also works for rotary servos like RC aircraft servos. Be careful about drawing too much power through your board. It would be well advised to have a switched power supply like a battery/transistor so that you dont cook your board.