This linear actuator changes its length according to the motion law which has been set into it. You can change this law by accessing the graphical editor of this function: select the 'link actuator' object, open the Property window, go to 'Spec' tab, then in 'Custom' tab - here press the 'd(t) extension' ChFunction button -

Note: in order to display the 3D shape of the telescopic actuator, CHRONO offers an easy trick: you just need to put the two parts of the telescopic strut under the level of the 'link actuator' object (see in the select window). Then, automatically, these two parts will be aligned with their Y axes aligned to the direction of the linear actuator.

However, note that this is only a simple way to offer a 3D visual feedback of the actuator, but the two telescopic parts does NOT have mass and inertial effects (if you need mass effect, you should model a complete telescopic mechanism with two rigid body parts linked with a prismatic joint).

You can find two ready-for-use objects for this (optional) 3D representation in the directory chrono/parts, that is Mech_Actuator_outer(1).r3d and Mech_Actuator_inner(2).r3d. Symply drop them into your actuators when you need to see this telescopic 3D representation.

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