Release Actuators
Safely secure and release delicate space hardware on orbit. Dcubed’s high-performance release actuators make different types of experiments feasible, accelerating space exploration.
Our actuator product lines
Release Nuts
Our Release Nut product line includes compact, shape-memory release actuators designed primarily for axial pre-load applications.
Pin Pullers
Our Pin Puller product line offers easy-to-use and highly-resettable release actuators that are perfect for shear-load applications.
Product advantages
- Cut weight by 34% and size by 44%
- Reset for testing up to hundreds of cycles, in seconds
- Lower AIT cost and time by 23%
- Decrease shock by 97% making our products suitable for any application
- Provide 100% actuation redundancy enabling mission-critical applications
- Reduce costs by 31% compared to competitor products
- Proven in space products (TRL9)
- Lower procurement process time by 90% with COTS
- Solidify supply chain with 100% export control-free products
Product specifications
| Nano SmartPack Release Nut (nD3SP) | Micro Release Nut (uD3RN) | Milli Release Nut (mD3RN) | Nano Release Nut (nD3RN) | Micro Pin Puller (uD3PP) | Nano Pin Puller (nD3PP) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 74x35x4 mm / 2.91x1.38x0.16 in | 25x25x25 mm / 0.9x0.9x0.9 in | Ø56 x 55 mm / Ø 2.204 x 2.165 in | 17x17x17 mm / 0.67x0.67x0.67 in | Ø28x52 mm / Ø1.1x20.27 in | 17x17x17 mm / 0.67x0.67x0.67 in |
| Mass | 27 grams / 0.95 oz | 38 grams / 1.34 oz | 225 grams / 8.818 oz | 12 grams / 0.42 oz | 85 grams / 3 oz | 12 grams / 0.42 oz |
| Load | Axial Load: >200 N / 45 lbf | Axial Load: >4 kN / 899 lbf | Axial Load: 18 kN / 4000 lbf | Axial Load: 380 N / 85 lbf | Shear Load: 490 N / 110 lbf | Shear Load: 50 N / 11 lbf |
| TRL | 9 | 9 | 4 (9 in 2026) | 9 | 7 (9 in 2025) | 9 |