A single-element tuning fork piezoelectric linear actuator

James R Friend; Jun Satonobu; Kentaro Nakamura; Sadayuki Ueha; Daniel S Stutts

doi:10.1109/tuffc.2003.1182121

A single-element tuning fork piezoelectric linear actuator

IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2003 Feb;50(2):179-86. doi: 10.1109/tuffc.2003.1182121.

Authors

James R Friend¹, Jun Satonobu, Kentaro Nakamura, Sadayuki Ueha, Daniel S Stutts

Affiliation

¹ Precision and Intelligence Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan. jamesfriend@ieee.org

PMID: 12625590
DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2003.1182121

Abstract

This paper describes the design of a piezoelectric tuning-fork, dual-mode motor. The motor uses a single multilayer piezoelectric element in combination with tuning fork and shearing motion to form an actuator using a single drive signal. Finite-element analysis was used in the design of the motor, and the process is described along with the selection of the device's materials and its performance. Swaging was used to mount the multilayer piezoelectric element within the stator. Prototypes of the 25-mm long bidirectional actuator achieved a maximum linear no-load speed of 16.5 cm/s, a maximum linear force of 1.86 N, and maximum efficiency of 18.9%.