Product category:
Electric Linear Actuators
News Release from: Servocell | Subject: Piezoceramic actuators
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 05 March 2003
Actuators overcome piezoceramic
shortcomings
PBT has launched a full portfolio of actuators and Servocell ready-assembled plug-and-play solutions.
PBT has launched a full portfolio of actuators and Servocell ready-assembled plug-and-play solutions Incorporating significant technology advances, the products provide design engineers with a long-lasting low-power alternative to solenoids in a format that is easy to integrate into everyday applications
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 7 Jan 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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The flexibility of the technology makes it suitable for a diverse range of functions including pneumatics, lock mechanisms, coin sorting, valve control and medical equipment.
PBT's technology has overcome the barriers to use usually associated with piezo technology, such as brittleness and high energy consumption, making the actuators suitable for integration into conventional manufacturing processes.
Based on the company's researched and patented design a range of actuators are now available from ones shaped like a pronged U with opposing ceramic on each side, which provide large movement, to those which have integral stiffness which provide greater force.
Varying the voltage supplied to the actuator varies the force and movement which can deliver a level of accuracy to within one micron.
Furthermore, the PBT actuators produce less heat than standard solutions so even small mechanisms can be designed without concern over heat dissipation.
"We are delighted to have produced an effective alternative to traditional methods of actuation", commented Simon Powell, Technology Director and founder member of PBT.
"Having eliminated the previous disadvantages of the technology, the applications of our product range are endless.
It is particularly effective within locking mechanisms, but we also expect that manufacturers will particularly benefit from exploiting its very low power use, which opens up mobile and in-field applications".
Design engineers have the option of either building their own mechanisms around the PBT actuator or using the Servocell design solutions.
Its ease of integration makes the Servocells suitable for high volume products in the consumer and industrial fields.
The Servocell actuators are sold ready assembled in a frame for ease of handling and integration.
Control options include analogue and digital micro control with onboard intelligence, or direct PC control to simple drive circuits A demonstration kit, containing a selection of Servocell actuators is also available for development and test purposes.
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