How do piezoelectric actuators work?

In summary, the conversation discusses the capabilities of piezoelectric actuators, specifically their maximum displacement and resonant frequency. The question is raised about using actuators for rapid and sustained dimensional changes in response to electric impulses. The conversation also touches on the use of raw piezoelectric elements and their ability to move objects, as well as the potential use of quartz as a material. The conversation ends with a request for help with an ANSYS analysis for a project involving piezoelectric patches for active vibration control.
  • #1
ktoz
171
12
Hi

I have a question about piezoelectric actuators. I'm not an engineer and have no experience with actuators, but in looking over the first item in the data sheet http://motion-controls.globalspec.com/SpecSearch/ProductSpecs?Comp=3083&VID=96478" , I see that the maximum displacement is 5 µm with a resonant frequency of 17 khz. Does that mean the surface of the actuator is able to move 5 µm every 1/17,000 of a second?

Is the above linked actuator capable of sustaining 17 khz for extended periods? Or does it require rest.

Thanks for any help
 
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  • #2
No, the resonant frequency is the frequency the actuator vibrates at to move. So anything the actuator is moving should not have a natural mode close to that resonant frequency. The data sheet does not say how fast the actuator is able to move from one limit to another, but 5um isn't much...
 
  • #3
Mech_Engineer said:
No, the resonant frequency is the frequency the actuator vibrates at to move. So anything the actuator is moving should not have a natural mode close to that resonant frequency. The data sheet does not say how fast the actuator is able to move from one limit to another, but 5um isn't much...

Well I have an idea kicking around for something which can rapidly change dimension (anywhere between 5um and 500um is fine) in response to an electric impulse and can oscillate between rest and expanded states 1000s or 10K, 20K 30K times per second. It needs do so for long periods without any adverse effects. Can actuators do that? Or should I be looking at some other kind of component?
 
  • #4
I think what you're looking for is a raw piezoelectric element, and a fast-switching power source. Piezoelectric actuators are made to move things, not necessarily switch very quickly.
 
  • #5
Mech_Engineer said:
I think what you're looking for is a raw piezoelectric element, and a fast-switching power source. Piezoelectric actuators are made to move things, not necessarily switch very quickly.

Thanks Mech_Engineer.

Can a raw piezoelectric element also move things? I haven't worked out exactly how much weight I'd need, but as a rough estimate, say 1 to 3 pounds, 5um to 50um per cycle at 10K+ cycles per second. The linear motion doesn't need to be much, just a lot of them per second.
 
  • #6
Well I Googled for several hours and found that Quartz is probably a good material to look into, but one thing I couldn't find was any information about how much Quartz deforms for various thicknesses and voltages. Does anyone know of a chart that shows this voltage -to-distortion relationship?
 
  • #7
This isn't a field that I know a lot about, but that seems to be an awful lot of mass to oscillate that rapidly, regardless of how small the movement is. There's a lot of inertia involved.
 
  • #8
Danger said:
This isn't a field that I know a lot about

Me either

but that seems to be an awful lot of mass to oscillate that rapidly, regardless of how small the movement is. There's a lot of inertia involved.

After more thought, I think the mass could be dropped a lot, probably down to about 6 ounces or less.

I don't know if this is even possible, but if the interface between the piezoelectric material and the secondary material was stiff enough, the bond between the two materials strong enough, a second material would be essentially an extension of the piezoelectric material.

It may be that as the size of a quartz crystal increases, the frequency of its piezoelectric distortion decreases but I can't find any hard numbers on the voltage/thickness/distortion/frequency relationships for quartz

Just at an observational level, as a piece of metal gets thicker, the sound it makes when you hit it gets higher so, my gut instinct would be that quartz might behave the same.
 
  • #9
Hi, mech_engineer,
I'm working on project of active vibration control using piezoelectric patches .
I'm using ANSYS for analysis part for optimal placement of smart structures on plate and also applying voltages to piezo actuators to suppress vibration.
But I'm finding difficulty in analysis part in ANSYS ,can u help me ?
 
  • #10
No it is not necessary i guess...
 

What is a piezoelectric actuator?

A piezoelectric actuator is a type of transducer that converts electrical energy into mechanical motion. It uses the piezoelectric effect, which is the ability of certain materials to generate an electric charge when subjected to mechanical stress, to produce movement.

What are the applications of piezoelectric actuators?

Piezoelectric actuators have a wide range of applications, including in precision positioning systems, microfluidics, nanopositioning, and vibration control. They are also used in consumer electronics, such as in autofocus cameras and haptic feedback devices.

How do piezoelectric actuators work?

Piezoelectric actuators typically consist of a piezoelectric material, such as quartz or ceramic, sandwiched between two electrodes. When an electric field is applied to the electrodes, the piezoelectric material expands or contracts, generating mechanical motion. This can be used to produce precise and fast movements.

What are the advantages of using piezoelectric actuators?

Piezoelectric actuators offer several advantages over other types of actuators, including high precision, fast response time, and low power consumption. They are also compact and have a long lifespan, making them ideal for use in small and delicate systems.

What are the limitations of piezoelectric actuators?

One limitation of piezoelectric actuators is their relatively small range of motion. They also tend to have a lower force output compared to other types of actuators, which may limit their use in certain applications. Additionally, piezoelectric materials can be expensive and may be sensitive to temperature changes.

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