Abstract
This paper presents a novel piezoelectric actuator containing double pushers. By using finite element analysis software, this study simulated the vibration mode and amplitude of piezoelectric actuators. The Taguchi method was used to design the parameters of piezoelectric actuators including length, width, height, and electrodes setting. This paper also presents a discussion regarding the influence that the design parameters had on the actuator amplitudes. Based on optimal design parameters, a novel piezoelectric actuator containing double pushers is produced and some thrust tests are also carried out. From the experiment results, the piezoelectric actuator containing double pushers can provide a greater thrust force than that of traditional actuators containing a single pusher as the preload is greater. Comparing with the traditional actuators, the thrust force of new actuator can be increased by 48% with the double preload.
1. Introduction
In 1982, the first piezoelectric actuator was produced by Shinsei. In 1987, piezoelectric actuators were installed in dot matrix printers and mass-produced; this was the first time piezoelectric actuators were used in commercial applications. Canon and Minolta successively applied piezoelectric actuators in the autofocus and shutter units of cameras. In the late 1990s, Toyota used piezoelectric actuators in the automobile industry, specifically in the suspension system and seat adjustment controls of vehicles. In 1995, Epson used piezoelectric actuators to develop print heads in ink-jet printers, thereby beginning the industrial trend of applying piezoelectric actuators in various microsystems [1].
Piezoelectric actuators are categorized into standing-wave and traveling-wave actuators according to the drive modes. The vibration mode of traveling-wave actuators is a ripple, which travels in an oval trajectory. The motion trajectories of standing-wave actuators are oval, linear, or of other shapes. The biggest difference between the two types is the wave node, which can be used as a reference when designing fixed points. Traveling-wave actuators do not contain wave nodes, thereby limiting the mechanical design; standing-wave actuators possess wave nodes, which ensure relatively simple designs that are easily miniaturized.
According to the drive signals, piezoelectric actuators are categorized into single-phase [2–5], double-phase [6–9], and multiphase actuators [5, 10–12]. The motion trajectory of single-phase piezoelectric actuators is nearly linear. Because of a lack of phase differences, single-phase piezoelectric actuators possess a simple driver circuit design and high output efficiency. Double- and multiphase piezoelectric actuators travel in oval trajectories because they are driven by multiple modes. Consequently, the circuit design of these actuators is complex. When two vibration modes are simultaneously excited, differences in frequency tend to prevent effective resonance, thereby lowering efficiency. This setback in double- and multiphase piezoelectric actuators must be rectified. Based on single-phase standing-wave piezoelectric actuators, this study designed a novel piezoelectric actuator containing double pushers.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Concepts
When periodic electrical energy is excited in piezoelectric actuators, periodic deformation occurs. This periodic motion then causes linear or rotational motion in objects because of the friction that pushes or drives objects. Figure 1 presents the driving principles of the vibration mode in an actuator using a single pusher. In traditional designs, vibration modes use single points to produce friction (driving force). Theoretically, if two driving points are used, increased friction can be generated to drive objects, and actuators with greater thrust forces can be designed. The vibration mode of the proposed actuator containing double pushers is shown in Figure 2.
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2.2. Parameters Design
Taguchi method is a kind of design of experiment (DOE) developed by Genichi Taguchi. It has been widely used to improve the quality of a product or a manufacturing process by means of statistical method. It usually obtains the optimal design factors by tools such as S/N ratio and orthogonal arrays [13].
In this study, “the average vibration amplitude of two different driving points on the piezoelectric plate” is chosen to be the quality characteristics. The quality characteristic is larger-the-better since the larger vibration amplitude is expected. All possible design factors that affect “the average vibration amplitude of two different driving points on the piezoelectric plate” were considered by a brainstorming in an early design stage. The width of the piezoelectric actuator, the length of the piezoelectric actuator, the thickness of the piezoelectric actuator, and the electrode setting are chosen to be the design factors. The four chosen control factors and their levels for the experiment are shown in Table 1. An array is used to set the parameter optimization experiment levels.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Simulation Results
Table 2 and Figure 3 are the quality characteristic response table in -direction and the factor effects response plot in -direction, respectively. It is obvious that each factor on the quality characteristics is influential. The order of their contribution is . The biggest vibration amplitude of these two driving points in the direction will occur with the following combination of factors: , , , and .
Table 3 and Figure 4 are the quality characteristic response table in -direction and the factor effects response plot in -direction, respectively. It is also obvious that each factor on the quality characteristics is influential. The order of their contribution is . The biggest vibration amplitude of these two driving points in the -direction will occur with the following combination of factors: , , , and .
Comparing the above results, it is found that the effects of factors , , and have good consistency for the -direction or -direction vibration amplitude. The maximum vibration amplitude of the two driving points on the piezoelectric actuator, both in the -direction and -direction, occurs as the factors , , and are on level 2, level 2, and level 1, respectively. The maximum vibration amplitude in the -direction of the two driving points on the piezoelectric actuator occurs as the factor is on level 3. However, the maximum vibration amplitude in the -direction of the two driving points on the piezoelectric actuator occurs as the factor is on level 1. Comparing the effects response of factor in Figure 4, the factor effects response is quite close when the factor is on level 1 or level 3. Therefore, the factors and settings of (width = 8 mm), (length = 16 mm), (thickness = 1 mm), and (electrode setting = 6 : 4) are chosen to be the optimal parameters combination.
3.2. Fabrication and Measurements
The pushers should be set at the positions with maximum amplitude on the piezoelectric actuator to produce the larger thrust force. The fixtures should be set at the positions with minimum amplitude on the piezoelectric actuator so as not to affect the operation of the actuator. Figure 5 is the vibrating amplitudes in the -direction and the -direction along the length of piezoelectric actuator. Seeking these two curves in Figure 5, it can be found that the maximum amplitudes, both in the -direction and the -direction, of the piezoelectric actuator occur at the positions of 6 mm and 10 mm. Therefore, the two pushers are set at these positions. The minimum amplitudes, both in the -direction and the -direction, of the piezoelectric actuator occur at the positions of 3 mm and 13 mm. Therefore, the two fixtures are set at these positions. Figure 6 shows the detailed dimensions of the large thrust force piezoelectric actuator with double pushers.
In order to measure the output thrust force of the piezoelectric actuator containing double pushers, this actuator is used in the linear stage. Figure 7 is linear stage using the large thrust force piezoelectric actuator. The linear stage includes a large thrust force piezoelectric actuator, a miniature linear guide, a uniaxial load-cell, a set of preload mechanism, and an adjusting screw. The pushers contact with the carriage on the linear guide. The preload mechanism is set on the other side and contacts with the fixtures on the piezoelectric actuator. By adjusting the screw, the preload mechanism will push the piezoelectric actuator toward the direction of linear guide to produce a proper preload between the pushers and the carriage on the linear guide. The preload can be measured by the load-cell.
In this study, the thrusts force of novel piezoelectric actuator containing double pushers and the conventional piezoelectric actuator containing a single pusher are measured. The setup of thrust force measurement experiment is shown in Figure 8. The drive signal generated by a function generator is supplied to the piezoelectric actuator through a power amplifier and an oscilloscope is used to monitor the drive signal. A force gauge is used to measure the thrust force of the linear stage as the piezoelectric actuator is excited. Figure 9 shows the thrust measurement experiment.
The resonance frequency of piezoelectric actuator containing one single pusher obtained by simulation is about 222 kHz. The actual operating frequency is about 218 kHz after the actuator is assembled in the linear stage. After initial testing, the appropriate preload of 215 g is chosen. Too large or small preload will influence the normal operating of the actuator. The thrusts forces of the linear stage with the preload of 215 g and the drive voltage 30 Vpp are shown in Table 4. The average thrust force is about 70 g as the operating frequency is 218 Hz.
The resonance frequency of piezoelectric actuator containing double pushers obtained by simulation is about 261 kHz. The actual operating frequency is about 256 kHz after the actuator is assembled in the linear stage. The thrusts forces of the linear stage with the preload of 215 g and the drive voltage 30 Vpp are shown in Table 5. The average thrust force is about 60 g as the operating frequency is 256 Hz. The performance is worse than the thrust force of piezoelectric actuator containing one single pusher.
The thrust force will be affected because the preload varies since the linear stage is driven via a friction between the pushers and the carriage. Therefore, the measurement experiment was carried out again with the preload of 430 g. The thrusts of the linear stage are shown in Table 6. The average thrust force is about 103 g as the operating frequency is 256 Hz which is better than the thrust force of piezoelectric actuator containing one single pusher. From the above experimental results, it is found that the piezoelectric actuator containing double pushers can provide a larger thrust as the preload is greater.
4. Conclusions
This study presents a novel piezoelectric actuator. The double pushers on the piezoelectric actuator are designed to enhance the thrust output. In the design process, Taguchi method is used to find the optimal combination of parameters including length, width, height, and electrodes setting. The contribution of each design factor of piezoelectric actuator is also discussed in this paper. Furthermore, a novel piezoelectric actuator containing double pushers according to the optimal design factors is produced and used in a linear stage. Some thrust tests are also carried out in this study. From the experiment results, the piezoelectric actuator containing double pushers can provide a greater thrust force than that of traditional actuators containing a single pusher as the preload is greater. Compared with the traditional actuators, the thrust force of new actuator can be increased by 48% with the double preload.
Conflict of Interests
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to thank National Science Council (NSC) for their financial supports to the project (Grant no. NSC 101-2221-E-224-009).