A microactuator may be configured by activating a source of electromagnetic radiation to heat and melt a selected set of phase-change plugs embedded in a substrate of the microactuator, pressurizing a common pressure chamber adjacent to each of the plugs to deform the melted plugs, and deactivating the source of electromagnetic radiation to cool and solidify the melted plugs. According to the invention, the bending load on the screw of the screw discharger is measured by means of one or more transducers which generate a loading signal on the basis of which the drive system controlling the speed andor direction of movement of the screw discharger is controlled. For example, the coatings can be applied using ion plasma deposition, sputtering or wire arc techniques or by using electroplating, high velocity oxygen free deposition, DC arc or electroless plating.