Product category:
Hydraulics and Pneumatics
News Release from: PBT | Subject: Servocell actuators
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 25 March 2003
Plug and play actuators
PBT, a leading innovator in the field of piezo ceramic technology, today announced its portfolio of actuators, and Servocell ready assembled plug and play solutions
PBT, a leading innovator in the field of piezo ceramic technology, today announced its portfolio of actuators and Servocell ready assembled plug and play solutions Incorporating significant technology advances, the products provide design engineers with a long lasting, low power alternative to solenoids in a format that is easy to integrate into everyday applications
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 25 Mar 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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The flexibility of the technology makes it suitable for a diverse range of functions including pneumatics, lock mechanisms, coin sorting, valve control and medical equipment.
PBT technology has overcome the barriers to use usually associated with piezo technology, such as brittleness and high energy consumption, making the actuators suitable for integration into conventional manufacturing processes.
Based on company research and patented design, a range of actuators are now available from ones shaped like a pronged U with opposing ceramic on each side, which provide large movement, to those which have integral stiffness which provide greater force.
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Varying the voltage supplied to the actuator varies the force and movement which can deliver a level of accuracy to within one micron.
Furthermore, the PBT actuators produce less heat than standard solutions so even small mechanisms can be designed without concern over heat dissipation.
"We are delighted to have produced an effective alternative to traditional methods of actuation." commented Simon Powell, technology director and founder member of PBT.
"Having eliminated the previous disadvantages of the technology, the applications of our product range are endless.
It is particularly effective within locking mechanisms, but we also expect that manufacturers will benefit from exploiting its very low power use, which opens up mobile and in-field applications".
Design engineers have the option of either building their own mechanisms around the PBT actuator or using the Servocell design solutions.
Its ease of integration makes the Servocell suitable for high volume products in the consumer and industrial fields.
The Servocell actuators are sold ready assembled in a frame for ease of handling and integration.
Control options include analogue and digital micro control with on-board intelligence, or direct PC control to simple drive circuits.
A demonstration kit, containing a selection of Servocell actuators is also available for development and test purposes.
PBT is a world leading innovator in the field of piezo-ceramic actuation technology.
Founded in 1998 as a spin off from PowerBreaker plc, the company aim was to improve the functionality of its residual current device (RCD) to create a new, cost-effective technology base for electrical protection systems.
The outcome was the development of an energy-efficient bender actuator that offers high performance at low cost, and which is suited to high-volume manufacture.
Servocell enables the use of this technology through providing market solutions.
The piezo electric effect is a two way phenomenon where stress is converted into electrical energy and vice versa.
Certain crystals generate electrical polarisation when subjected to mechanical stress.
When an electrical charge is applied, the crystals change shape, which results in movement.
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