I desperately need a small actuator capable of lifting a small arm, (less then 8oz)about .25" in the air and lower it slowly. Something like the type of movement in a record player.

I've been looking at solenoids, steppers, linear steppers, pnematics, etc. I'm trying to avoid as much support equipment as possible, such as drivers and compressed air supplies. I could design for either rotary or linear motion. I though about a mini RC car servo, but the integration seems tricky.

Any Ideas?