A Single-Clamp Inchworm Actuator with Two Piezoelectric Stacks

Area of Science:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Robotics

Background:

• Inchworm piezoelectric actuators are crucial for precision positioning, offering large stroke, high force, and resolution.
• Traditional designs often require multiple piezoelectric stacks, leading to complex structures and control systems.
• Existing miniaturization efforts still face challenges with overall device volume.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel inchworm piezoelectric actuator with a simplified single-clamp and single-drive structure.
• To achieve a more compact size and reduced volume compared to conventional designs.
• To maintain or improve performance metrics like speed and output force.

Main Methods:

• Development of an inchworm piezoelectric actuator featuring a single-clamp and single-drive mechanism.
• Implementation of a clamping mechanism with two sets of feet exhibiting opposite displacement for continuous frictional force.
• Utilizing a displacement sensor for experimental testing of step distance, output force, and speed.

Main Results:

• The proposed actuator demonstrates a compact size and significantly smaller volume.
• Experimental tests confirmed a maximum speed of 174.3 μm/s.
• An impressive maximum output force of 8.6 N was achieved at 19 Hz and 150 V.

Conclusions:

• The single-clamp, single-drive inchworm piezoelectric actuator offers a viable solution for compact precision positioning.
• The novel clamping mechanism ensures continuous frictional engagement for reliable stepping motion.
• The actuator's performance metrics demonstrate its potential for advanced applications requiring high precision and force in a small form factor.