Like many terms used in the linear motion industry, such as “heavy duty,” “miniature,” and “corrosion-resistant,” to name a few, there is no industry standard that specifies what constitutes a “high-speed” linear actuator. Nevertheless, there are some general guidelines that manufacturers follow when classifying and marketing their actuators as high speed. These guidelines are typically […]
Mini + piezo + voice coil
When are voice coil actuators the best linear motion option?
Voice coil actuators are most commonly used for micro- or nano-positioning applications, with strokes from 10 nm up to 100 mm. In addition to very precise positioning capabilities, voice coil actuators provide extremely smooth movement. They’re often paired with air bearings, crossed-roller guides, or linear shafts and round bearings to provide assemblies that are backlash-free. […]
Power of V8 … and nanometer precision positioning in PI’s new piezo linear motor
Motion control and piezo systems expert PI (Physik Instrumente) introduces a new robust OEM walking motor drive, the N-331, with its configuration rooted in existing patented piezo actuator technology and a patented piezo stepping motion principle design. Based on the application of historically successful technology, the new design it is suitable for use in high-end […]
Sensata’s new linear voice coil actuator for ultra-small motion designs in medical devices
Medical devices are often smaller and lighter in weight than the majority of applications that require some type of motion control, simply because they are often portable/mobile, hand-carried or lifted. Internal components needed for these devices are chosen carefully to make for the smallest overall device footprint. This poses unique challenges to component manufacturers supplying […]
Voice-coil positioning stage from H2W Technologies has dual feedback
The VCS20-020-CR-01-MC-F3K voice coil positioning stage has dual feedback capability. It can operate either under closed loop position control with force monitoring or closed loop force control with position monitoring. It uses H2W voice coil motor NCC20-18-020-1A to generate a continuous and peak force of 2.0 lb and 6.0 lb respectively — with total stroke length […]
Actuators with haptic feedback: Ultra-thin PiezoHapt actuator with low driving voltage
TDK now sells a new haptic component — a new ultra-thin PiezoHapt actuator featuring a short response time of just 4 msec. PiezoHapt has a unimorph design consisting of a multilayer piezo element bonded to one side of a vibration plate. With a thickness of a mere 0.35 mm the new haptic actuator is much thinner than conventional eccentric […]
Compact linear piezo stages offer nanometer resolution and extended travel ranges
Engineers and scientists working in the fields of nano-biotechnology, metrology, and photonics run applications that require nanometer precision and ultra-fine adjustment, often in confined spaces. To meet those requirements, PI, a lead manufacturer of nanopositioning and motion control solutions, provides its compact linear piezo positioners – P-620.1 to P-629.1 – of the PIHera family consisting […]
New anti-rotational design ensures voice-coil actuator accuracy
BEI Kimco, a brand of Sensata Technologies, now sells a new moving magnet Voice Coil Actuator with a flexure design that ensures high alignment accuracy by preventing unwanted shaft rotation. The new VCA also provides long life with cost-effective pricing and is ideally suited where extreme precision is required, such as in medical equipment, laboratory […]
Linear systems for nanopositioning
When we talk about linear motion, we typically discuss applications where the travel distance is at least a few hundred millimeters, and the required positioning is in the range of a few tenths of a millimeter. And for these requirements, guides and drives with recirculating bearings are a good fit. Case in point: the lead […]
QNP2 Series XY piezo nanopositioning stages with 50x 50 mm aperture
Aerotech’s QNP2 series XY, parallel-kinematic, piezo nanopositioning stages combine sub-nanometer resolution, high dynamics, and excellent geometric performance in a compact, low-profile package. The QNP2-100-XYA has a 50 mm x 50 mm clear aperture with closed-loop travels up to 100 µm x 100 µm (open-loop travels to 120 µm x 120 µm). The design is ideal […]
