The workspace of cable driven parallel manipulators (CDPMs) and the forces they can apply, are limited by the fact that cables cannot support compressive loads. Linear actuators that can support compressive loads, but have the benefits of cables could be used to build hybrid CDPMs.

In this work, designs using tape measure sections for the extended portion, or beam, of an actuator are studied. Prototype beams were tested in compression and bending, and the impact of varying the strip magnet and tape measure widths were explored as well as adding a spring core. The effects of inertia and acceleration on tip displacement during dynamic loading were also investigated.

A strip magnet and external brace design had the highest loading capacities, which increased as tape width increased. During dynamic testing, higher accelerations caused higher tip deflections. Future work is needed to design and build an actuator using this beam design.