Small size piezoelectric impact drive actuator with rectangular bimorphs

Abstract

A new small size linear type piezoelectric inertia-friction actuator has been developed. The actuator is self-inertia type and operation principle is based on the impact drive. Piezoelectric actuator has simple designand consists of four rectangular bimorph piezoelectric plates fixed in two metal holders that are connectedby the two springs. Actuator can operate as self-moving slider on the clamped carbon fiber reinforcedplastic rod or it can be clamped to drive the rod. Size of the actuator is 8 × 8.5 × 5.6 mm. Excitation of theactuator can be carried out by single saw tooth or rectangular pulse type signal. Bidirectional motion of theslider is achieved by changing phase of the saw tooth electrical signal by or duty ratio of the rectangularpulse signal. Numerical investigation of the piezoelectric actuator was performed to analyze naturalfrequencies, modal shapes and response of the actuator to the different excitation signals. A prototypepiezoelectric actuator was made and operating principle of the actuator was validated. Measurementsof electrical and mechanical output characteristics were performed. The maximum no load velocity ofthe slider reaches 40.376 mm/s with driving voltage of 40 V. Actuator achieves maximum thrust force of0.21 N with the same input voltage.