What is the Piezo Effect, how does it work? What are the applications in motion control? Read the Piezo BLOG: http://www.pi-usa.us/blog/?s=piezo //
“Piezo” is related to the Greek word for pressure. The “direct piezo effect” (pressure creates an electrical charge in certain crystals) and was discovered in the late 19th century by the Curie brothers. The direct piezo effect is used in sensor applications and for energy recovery.
The “inverse piezo effect” (an applied voltage creates a change in shape in certain materials) is important for motion, positioning, sound and ultrasound transducers generation.
Today most piezo applications are based on PMN ceramic materials, but other electro-ceramics such as PMN (electrostrictive materials) are also available.
The inverse piezoelectric effect enables precision motion and is employed in piezo mechanisms for ultra-precision positioning and motion control and the nanometer level, high-speed motion (fast valves, dispensing, scanning microscopy and optics) and nano-automation applications in many high tech industries including semiconductors, medical and aerospace.
More on piezo mechanics at http://www.piezo.ws
More on ultrasonic piezo transducers:
http://www.pi-usa.us/blog/ultrasonic-piezo-transducers-from-welding-to-medical-applications/
Different Piezo Motion Drives Include:
Stack Actuators: fastest response, highest force
Flexure Guided Actuators: longer travel, better guiding precision
Bimorph Bender Actuators:(long travel to millimeters, compact design, low cost, but low force
Shear Actuators: high force, fast response, lateral motion, compact XYZ positioners
Piezo Motors: long travel, high speed, non-magnetic designs
Flexure guided nanopositioning stages: Multi-axis motion with extreme precision.
