A New Type of Mechanical Transformer with High Stroke Magnification Ratio

摘要

The stacked PZT actuators are widely used in precision equipments. In this paper, a new type of mechanical magnifier incorporated with stacked PZT, which we brand it as MechaTrans~R is proposed. It is a two-step magnification mechanism and is capable of performing precise and high speed linear motion. 30 types of MechaTrans~R are commercialised. We have confirmed that the stroke is magnified up to sixteen hundred micrometers (1600(μm), which is 60 times of the original stacked PZT stroke. Under a practical operation condition of an industrial application, the operated cycles of the MechaTrans~R have already exceeded 1 billion cycles, and it is still operating in well condition. As another feature, MechaTrans~R is capable of performing high speed linear motion. They have been successfully applied to several industrial applications. Besides, they are going to be applied to agriculture, consumer, and medical fields.