Development of a Four-Feet Driving Type Linear Piezoelectric Actuator Using Bolt-Clamped Transducers

A four feet driving-type linear piezoelectric actuator, which achieves linear driving motion with step displacement of several microns by the alternating longitudinal motions of three bolt-clamped transducers, is designed and tested. The three transducers are located in I-shape, and the four end tips of the two horizontal transducers are used to drive the runner step-by-step. The horizontal displacements of the driving tips are used to lock the runner, whereas their vertical displacements push the runner linearly. The kinematics of the linear piezoelectric actuator is analyzed and discussed, and the deformations of the transducers are calculated. A prototype is fabricated and tested by an experimental platform. The output displacement has approximately a linear relationship with the amplitude of the voltage, and their ratio is tested to be about 0.01 μm/V. The steady displacement of the driving tip is tested to be about 1.85 μm for one step under voltage of 200 V, and a maximum speed of 141.2 μm/s is achieved under a frequency of 70 Hz.