A piezo-driven rotary inchworm actuator featured with simple structure and high output torque

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Shao, Shubao^a | Song, Siyang^a | Liu, Kaiyuan^a | Xu, Minglong^a;

Affiliations: [a] State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, P.R. China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Minglong Xu, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 28, Xianning West Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710049, P.R. China. Tel.: /Fax: +86 29 82669093; E-mail: mlxu@xjtu.edu.cn

Abstract: A novel piezo-driven rotary inchworm actuator which features with simple structure and large output torque is presented. To simplify the structure of the actuator and hence to improve its assembly accuracy, a multi-functional mechanism that has both driving and clamping capabilities was designed. The mechanical property of the multi-functional mechanism is analyzed in detail and its working principle is also described. A prototype of the proposed actuator is fabricated and several performance tests are implemented. The experimental results show that the actuator can achieve the maximum output torque of 112 Nmm and the maximum rotational speed of 43.5 mrad/s under the driving frequency of 300 Hz.

Keywords: Piezo-driven, rotary inchworm actuator, simple structure, high output torque

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-171177

Journal: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 59, no. 1, pp. 317-325, 2019