Haptic actuator for miniature shaker applications

Vibrating Actuators

  • Miniature shaker
  • High force
  • Stroke up to 4mm
  • Maintenance-free
  • Description
  • Good to know

  • Downloads

Vibratory Actuator - Cost-effective Alternative to Plunger Coil Drives

There are a number of applications where vibratory motion is required for which simple linear solenoids are not ideal and for which plunger coil actuators are technically suitable but a costly option. Vibratory actuators are simple bidirectional actuators to meet such requirements. These haptic actuators are based on a laminated stator assembly with multiple poles for good force generation and a simple armature assembly consisting of a steel plate with multiple magnets forming the poles. The actuators are offered as a set of stator and armature parts for incorporation into the customer's own assembly or as an integrated module with moving plates that provide linear motion and maintain separation between the two parts. Amplitude is increased when the assembly is driven near its resonant frequency. Applications include linear conveyors, liquid mixers or powder compactors.

The voice coil actuator is a non-commutated, two terminal limited motion device. It has linear control characteristics, zero hysteresis, zero cogglng and infinite position sensitivity. It has low electrical and mechanical time constants and a high output power to weight and volume ratio. It is nearly an ideal servomechanism. A voice coil actuator consists of two members - a coil wound on a non-ferrous base and a permanent magnet field/core assembly. When installed, the coil is situated in the gap between the field and core and one element is mechanically fixed to allow motion along the force (or torque) vector. When coil current flows, force or torque is generated. The magnitude and direction of the current flow determine direction and amplitude.
Voice coil actuators are available in two main configurations:  linear (cylindrical or rectangular) and rotary (cyclindrical or arc segment).

Motor Parameters
Force Constant: KNI N / Ampere-turn
The force developed per Ampere-turn of coil excitation. The force developed by the voice coil is the product of the Force constant, multiplied by the excitation in Ampere-turns.
Linear Range: mm
The range of movement for which the developed force is >90% of the peak force developed by the motor.
Thermal Resistance: Rth ºC / W
The temperature rise of the coil per watt excitation power with the pot assembly mounted on a massive aluminium block.
Max Temperature: Tmax ºC
Maximum permissible coil temperature for the motor.
Continuous Force: F100 N
The peak force developed by the motor when continuously energized at a power level such that the coil attains the maximum temperature when the pot assembly is attached to a massive aluminium block at 20ºC. This may vary slightly for different coil winding options.
Continuous Power Rating: P100 W
The continuous power input which results in the coil reaching maximum rated temperature when fully inserted in the pot,which is attached to a massive aluminium block at 20ºC.

Behaviour
The behaviour of a voice coil motor can be explained by reference to the classical physics problem of a current carrying wire supported in a magnetic field. Where the magnetic field strength is B, the current carried by the wire is I, and the length of the portion of wire cut by the field is l, a force F is developed according to the equation F = B x I x l
The force developed is perpendicular to both the magnetic field, and to the current flowing in the wire.

Hysteresis
Hysteresis is analogous to backlash in mechanical systems which can give rise to position or force errors. The graph shows how hysteresis is manifested in a positioning system - as current is varied to change the direction of a move it needs to change back significantly to achieve any movement. Hysteresis in solenoid devices can be as great as 10% or more of the developed force, whereas in voice coil motors it is typically <<1% of the developed force. Low hysteresis enables precise and repeatable position control to be realized.

Article No. Peak force Stroke Dimensions Feature/Option Images 3D Data sheet Enquiry Wishlist
HAP56-10 Up to 10N 3-4mm 32x56x15mm Without steel flexures Enquiry Enquiry
VIBRO1 Up to 10N 3-4mm 40x73x22mm With steel flexures Enquiry Enquiry