http://www.surpluscenter.com/Brands...-VDC-LINEAR-ACTUATOR-WITH-SENSOR-5-1577-8.axd

 

That's the actuator I'll be using

 

Those limit switch are non adjustable and may be just NO.
You may have to fit externals somehow.
Max.

 

And what was wrong with using the higher powered 115 VAC one I referenced from the same place that was 1/3 the price that only needs one SPST switch to revers its direction?

The one you have chosen has a average stroke speed of .5 inches a second which fora full out and back cycle will take around 30 second to do. Also it only has a 20% duty cycle rating which on the standard 5 minute run time rating would let you crush 2 cans every 5 minutes.

Just making things more expensive and complicated while slower and weaker just for the Rube Goldberg learning experience?

 

I did not see any ref. to speed on 120 V AC. unit. Bet it is slow.
On 12 V unit this is my take on internal wiring. With +12 V on red wire rod extends until it opens SW A, motor stops. Wires reversed, motor turns in reverse until SW B is opened.

 

Now I see why you want the pot. Two comparators to detect & position , H bridge or relay & other misc. parts.
My brain is not working to well today, maybe others can give you a schematic.

 

Well what type of actuator would y'all use to speed things up? I would like a faster one but the crushing power goes down when you look at the faster ones. The high speed actuator

 

use a pc power unit, gives 12v at 20amps

 

Hydraulics, pneumatics, larger more powerful linear actuators, flywheels....

Actually the 1000 pound unit more than likely has a higher travel speed being it has a substantially more powerful motor.

2 amps at 120 volts is 10 times more power than 2 amps at 12 volts.

 

So there's no smaller scale actuator I can use that will be faster ? Besides pneumatics

 

I think the best way to approach this whole project is that you tell us how many cans you want to crush, how fast you want them crushed and what you are willing to spend and we work from there.

 

Maybe a can every 3 seconds . Price doesn't matter

 

Maybe a can every 3 seconds . Price doesn't matter

Then as I said, check out ballscrew jacks (Nook Industries), the acme type are a little cheaper.
1/4 to 100 tons.
Max.

 

Speed for actuator ref. in post # 41 is 5 mm / sec.

 

Yea that's not going to be fast at all