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MSPA motors for rotary motions
19 June 2023
Modular Stepping Piezoelectric Actuators (MSPA) are inertial motors working under the stick-slip principle [1].
The advantages of rotary MSPA are unlimited stroke, torque at rest, high resolution, nonmagnetic and vacuum compatibility.
This paper presents the new MSPA developments regarding rotary motion at Cedrat Technologies for macro and
micro sizes MSPA. These progresses follow the previous technical investigations around noise reduction, miniaturization
at low voltage and the integration of MSPA modules [2]. In this paper two rotary piezo motors are presented: The first
one is a macro size MSPA based on APA40SM. It is developed to work under nuclear environment: operational temperature
up to 70 degrees, vacuum, 5 Tesla magnetic field and high radiation fields (3,5 kGy/hour gamma radiation power
and 500 Mn/(cm².second) neutron radiation power). The second is a micro size MSPA based on APA30uXS. This motor
is used for embedded application such as nonmagnetic shutter.
Nanometric linear piezo-actuator with integrated Strain Gages for high stability positioning
19 June 2023
Many applications require a mechanism capable of nanometric resolution position tuning, and with the ability to maintain perfectly this position for a long time (more than several days). For those applications, piezo-actuators are a perfect fit since they easily provide nanometric resolution. However, they require the use of a position sensor to be able to maintain stable position over time. Until now, the long-term stability of strain gages (SG) for position measurement was questionable. Using its extensive know-how of strain gages integration and new instrumentation equipment, Cedrat Technologies has managed to demonstrate the ability of a piezo-mechanism with integrated strain gages sensors to achieve nanometric position stability. This technology opens new possibilities for industrial, aeronautical, and space applications.
Nanometric positioning with IASI-NG Beam Splitter Mechanism Actuator
19 June 2023
This paper presents a piezoelectric motor which provides linear motion and very high resolution (40 nm steps). First, the space application (IASI-NG instrument onboard METOP-SG satellite) and associated performance requirements are presented. The internal architecture of the motor and its main components are then explained. A first focus is done on the experimental verification of the threaded interface lifetime which is a key element of the mechanism. A second focus is on the nanometric position test bench. Achieved results are provided for resolution, motion quality and position stability. Finally, results from the
vibration test campaign are presented
Nanometric positioning with piezo actuator and high stability strain gauges
19 June 2023
Many applications require long-term position stability, which relates to the notion of absolute precision over time. Until now, the long-term stability of strain gages (SG) for position measurement was questionable. Using its extensive know-how of strain gages integration and new instrumentation equipment, Cedrat Technologies has managed to demonstrate nanometric position stability of a closed-loop piezo-mechanism with integrated strain gages sensors. This technology opens a wide range of new possibilities for industrial, aeronautical, and space applications.
NASA ARC Novel sample handling for XRD analysis
19 June 2023
Sample preparation and sample handling are among the most critical operations associated with X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. These operations require attention in a laboratory environment, but they become a major constraint in the deployment of XRD instruments for robotic planetary exploration. We are developing a novel sample handling system that dramatically relaxes the constraints on sample preparation by allowing characterization of coarsegrained material that would normally be impossible to analyze with conventional powder-XRD techniques.
New actuators for aircraft, space and military applications
19 June 2023
Actuation is used in all vehicles (aircraft, spacecraft, ground vehicles, etc) to control the position and/or attitude of the vehicle, and also to deploy or retract equipment, particularly for embedded optic instruments (cameras, telescopes). As such, the actuation is a safety critical system, particularly when humans could be catastrophically affected by failures within the system. Applications for actuation are flight controls, landing gear, rotors, suspension, antennae steering, valves, scanning, positioning using hydraulic, electromechanical, magnetic and piezo actuators. In aircraft there is a common goal to reduce the number of hydraulic actuators in vehicles and eventually to replace them completely by electric actuators.
