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Hi
I had a neat idea for a relay design, basically its a relay that takes very tiny movements to open/close a circuit, I.e. I can make a 10 micron movement to create/close a 1mm gap very easily and in a small package (3mm by 10mm by 20mm say) and with a fairily large contact area (for that size it would be at least 100mm^2).
I could probably use a piezoelectric material to actuate it at pretty high frequencies, it looks like it should do 500Hz no problem.
I want to know if there would be use for such device, I'm a mechanical engineer and know almost nothing about relays except that they cost too much. It is mechanical so it will probably have some bounce, and just to be clear it doesn't simply use a mechanical advantage (like leverage) to create what I said.
If I am to build this it would take me some time and I want to know if it's worth it, I don't want to waste time making something that doesn't impress anyone. Also can someone let me know if something like this (or better) already exists? This is usually what happens when I design something, I find out someone has done it before and probably done it better
I appreciate some advice from those of you experienced in the field. Thanks!
I had a neat idea for a relay design, basically its a relay that takes very tiny movements to open/close a circuit, I.e. I can make a 10 micron movement to create/close a 1mm gap very easily and in a small package (3mm by 10mm by 20mm say) and with a fairily large contact area (for that size it would be at least 100mm^2).
I could probably use a piezoelectric material to actuate it at pretty high frequencies, it looks like it should do 500Hz no problem.
I want to know if there would be use for such device, I'm a mechanical engineer and know almost nothing about relays except that they cost too much. It is mechanical so it will probably have some bounce, and just to be clear it doesn't simply use a mechanical advantage (like leverage) to create what I said.
If I am to build this it would take me some time and I want to know if it's worth it, I don't want to waste time making something that doesn't impress anyone. Also can someone let me know if something like this (or better) already exists? This is usually what happens when I design something, I find out someone has done it before and probably done it better
I appreciate some advice from those of you experienced in the field. Thanks!