Content area
Abstract
The main objective of this thesis is the development of high-precision positioning devices for a large range of displacements. As an actual representative of this class of devices, a piezoelectric rotary actuator was selected for the development. The basic principles of the design can, however, be easily applied to similar linear positioning devices.
This thesis presents the entire process of the development from a novel idea to the design, fabrication, implementation of the experimental prototype, and laboratory testing.
The actuator proposed in this thesis is of stepper type; it generates a continuous rotary motion by combining very small angular displacements.
The actuator consists of three functional subunits, namely clamping, clutching and rotational flexure units. While the clamping and clutching units accommodate two multilayer piezoelectric devices, the rotational flexure unit includes only one of them. Step-wise continuous rotary motion is generated by driving these piezoelectric devices in a predetermined logic and by employing very small displacements, 30 $\mu m$, and extremely high blocking forces, 10000 N, generated by the piezoelectric devices. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
