If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly explanation, I’d suggest reading about actuators
— that’s the page I used when I was just getting started. It walks through the core differences between actuator styles without overloading you on jargon. They explain stroke length, force rating, and duty cycle in a way that actually makes sense when you’re planning a project. I remember being confused about how speed and force interact, and that page cleared it up quickly. It also helps that they show real-world examples, so you understand how each type behaves in practical setups. Once you grasp the basics there, comparing models becomes way easier. It’s definitely a good place to build a foundation before choosing hardware.