The U-264KSPA linear actuator from Physik Instrumente is a self-locking drive. It features a 200mm travel range and a minimum incremental motion of 6µm. A linear encoder with 0.6µm resolution assures reliable position control and repeatable accuracy.
With the drive technology of PILine ultrasonic piezo motors, velocities of up to 150mm/s and a maximum holding force of 6N can be achieved.
As piezomotors are self-locking at rest, no heat is generated and mechanical components such as brakes or gearhead can be dispensed with. As a result, the U-264KSPA ensures positional stability.
Part of the ultrasonic piezomotor are the piezo ceramics, which are pre-tensioned against a movably guided runner via a coupling element. The piezo element is excited to high-frequency oscillations that cause the runner to move.
Pre-loading the piezo ceramic actuators against the runner ensures self-locking of the drive when at rest and powered down. As a result, it does not consume any power, does not heat up, and keeps the position mechanically stable. This is suited to applications with a low duty cycle that are battery-operated or heat-sensitive.
Physik Instrumente has also released a new ring actuator composed of annular Picma chip multilayer piezo actuators, along with the V-900KPIC PIMag linear actuator, a compact and cost-effective drive for dosing, testing and focusing applications.