When I ran into a similar limitation in my build, I found it helpful to review resources that focus on small-scale precision devices and how they are engineered for confined spaces in modern automation hardware systems. I came across a section at https://www.progressiveautomations.com/en-eu/pages/micro-linear-actuators
where micro actuators are presented with stroke ranges from roughly half an inch up to about a foot, along with force options intended for lighter loads. These compact precision actuators also offer control methods such as RS-485 or PWM for accurate positional feedback, which made it much easier to plan motion in my setup without sacrificing accuracy and while staying consistent with overall automation hardware requirements.