New Piezo Bimorph Actuators are Smaller, Require Lower Voltage, by PI Ceramic

06 Aug 2012

Auburn, MA – piezo ceramics specialist PI ceramic offers a new line of co-fired multilayer piezo bimorph actuators.

Bimorph piezo actuators achieve a mechanical amplification effect by different layers expanding at different rates. The new actuators are co-fired, i.e. they are monolithic and all layers are produced in one step.

They achieve long travel ranges with motion to 2 mm and nanometer resolution. Response times are in the millisecond range, important for fast switching or scanning applications. Due to the monolithic design they provide excellent mechanical stability, low operating voltage and can be operated at temperatures to 150°C.

Typical applications of bimorph piezos
Pneumatic valves, fast optical switches, beam deflection, micropositioning acceleration sensors, medical device engineering, semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace, bio-nanotechnology and automotive.

More information can be downloaded here.

Closed Loop Option
The piezo bimorph actuators can be factory equipped with position feedback sensors for closed-loop operation. Controllers, OEM driver electronics / piezo power supplies are also available.

Variety of Different Shapes, Even with Central Aperture
The new bimorph actuators come in a variety of standard and custom shapes, from rectangular stripes to triangles, circular disks with optional aperture etc.
Compact versions with only a few millimeters in size can be produced.

Piezoceramic Actuator Basics:
A piezo actuator is a ceramic device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy or motion with high precision, speed and force. There is no friction and wear involved resulting in a device with very high motion resolution and virtually unlimited lifetime.

Two basic types of piezo actuators are common: bulk / stacked / glued discrete actuators and cofired (multilayer, monolithic) ceramic actuators.

Physik Instrumente's electroceramics division manufactures both types and is set up for custom designs even in smaller production runs at a competitive price.

Specifications of standard bimorph benders are available here.

About PI

PI is a leading manufacturer of precision motion control equipment, piezo systems, piezo motors and actuators for medical engineering, photonics, bio-nano-technology, & semiconductor applications. PI has been developing and manufacturing standard & custom precision products with piezoceramic and electromagnetic drives for 4 decades. The company has been ISO 9001 certified since 1994 and provides innovative, high-quality solutions for OEM and research. PI is present worldwide with eight subsidiaries, R&D / engineering on 3 continents and total staff of 700+.

For more information on PI please visit: www.physikinstrumente.com/en/index.php

PI USA designs and manufactures piezo products at the company’s US headquarters in Auburn, MA.

PI on Twitter: http://twitter.com/PI_Physik_Inst

PI Blog:physik-instrumente.blogspot.com

International Contacts:

USA / Canada:
www.pi-usa.us

East:
Tel: (508) 832-3456
Email: info@pi-usa.us

Midwest
Tel: (508) 832-3456
Email: info@pi-usa.us

West
Tel: (949) 679-9191
Email: info@pi-usa.us

Europe:www.pi.ws

Germany: +49 (721) 4846-0

Italy: +39 02 665 011 01

United Kingdom: +44 (1582) 764 334

Asia:

China: www.pi-china.cn

Japan: www.pi-japan.jp

Korea: www.pikorea.co.kr

Precision Linear Stage, Motorized Positioner, Translation Stage, Piezoelectric, Piezo Positioner, Piezo Actuator, Piezo ceramics, Piezo Material, Piezo Motor