A selection of motion-amplified piezo flexure actuators and precision grippers from PI. (Photo: PRNewswire-PRWeb/PI)
The new piezo options from PI USA are said to deliver high speed and nanometer resolution in a small package.
AUBURN, Mass.—The piezoelectric effect directly converts electrical energy into mechanical motion. PI (Physik Instrumente) LP uses this effect for high precision, solid-state based actuators and grippers, the company said in a release.
Embedding a piezoceramic stack in a flexure-based arrangement can increase the motion range of the piezo actuator while providing protection, precision guidance, and a mounting interface at the same time. PI’s motion amplified piezo actuators are energy efficient and provide millisecond fast response and virtually unlimited positional resolution, according to the release.
Compared to traditional piezo stack actuators, amplified piezo actuators provide extended motion ranges and can be easily integrated in OEM applications, such as precision instrumentation, grippers for micro-optics and medical devices, high speed valves, nano-dosing and pumping, fiber-optic alignment, and nano positioning. Additional applications are reported to include nano-dispensing, biotechnology, microfluidics, medical devices, microscopy, and life sciences.
At the heart of all PI motion-amplified piezo actuators is a PICMA® multilayer piezo ceramic element, of the same patented construction as those used on the Mars rover for their extreme reliability and lifetime beyond 100 billion cycles. PI’s patented, ceramic insulated multi-layer PICMA® piezoelectric actuators are described as “100 percent vacuum compatible and can work in a wide temperature range.”
Motion amplified piezo actuators with high-stiffness designs allow for high load capacity and insensitivity to shock and vibration. Integrated feedback sensors enable highly linear and repeatable motion or force control, when operated with a PI’s closed-loop piezo-controllers, the company said in the release.
Why ultrafast piezo technology?
According to PI, piezoelectric motion components are highly valued for their fast response times, capable of dynamic movements at frequencies reaching several kHz and delivering motion resolution down to the sub-nanometer level. Their operation is driven by molecular effects, with a solid-state design that eliminates traditional moving parts, bearings, or gears, making them maintenance-free.
This advantage arises from the inverse piezoelectric effect in their crystalline structure, which operates without friction-inducing components. Piezo actuators are also exceptionally energy-efficient, as they draw no power when idle, or holding a steady position. These qualities are said to make them versatile for various applications, such as in-process technology, where they reportedly enable rapid dosing cycles with finely adjustable, precise motion control essential for dosing accuracy.