PI (Physik Instrumente) has introduced the P-080 tubular piezo stack, the newest member of the PICMA line of piezo actuators. Piezo actuators are based on solid-state motion effects and are used in applications that require attributes such as high speed, high force, and virtually unlimited resolution.
Conventional, polymer-insulated piezo actuators are sensitive to environmental conditions, especially humidity and temperature. Based on a patented, ceramic-encapsulation process developed by PI’s piezo division, PI Ceramic, PICMA multilayer piezo stack actuators are durable and reliable. PI’s actuators are a manufactured in a cofiring process as monolithic blocks that can be combined to achieve longer displacement range.
Furthermore, tubular stacks combine the advantages of stack actuators with the versatility of piezo tubes. Stacks are significantly more robust than tubes and provide much higher stiffness and forces as well as longer travel ranges. P-080 stacks come in displacement ranges of 5, 11 and 25 microns with up to 850N blocking force.
The P-080 joins a large family of piezo actuators including miniature chip actuators (2x2x2mm) and high-force actuators providing several 1,000lbs of force. As a multilayer stack actuator, the through-hole of the P-080 is ideal for preloading or as aperture for optical applications. Microsecond response, sub-nanometer resolution and the low operating voltage, along with minimal power consumption while holding the position, make the P-080 ideal for many precision motion tasks in optics, semiconductors, photonics, and precision engineering applications.