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Mechatronic Solutions characterized by Miniaturization and Performance

The French company CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES develops cutting edge actuators and piezoelectric motors

Used in a range of scientific and industrial applications, these products perform functions such as micro & nano positioning, vibration generation, microscanning, fast and precise actuation, active vibration control and energy recovery.

The LSPA (Linear Stepping Piezo Actuator) motor, a linear piezoelectric micromotor with a long stroke (several mm) and nanoscale positioning, bears witness to the company’s remarkable capacity for innovation.

SPA (Stepping Piezo Actuator) motors are linear (LSPA) or rotative (RSPA) stepping micromotors with blocking in position. The LSPA30uXS piezo micromotor weighing less than 1 gram, smaller than a 1 euro-centime coin, offers a linear stroke of 3 mm with submicron resolution. In addition, this micropositioning is achieved with a power-off position blocking force in the order of 0.5N. This blocking force enables it to support 50 times its own weight! This is a key advantage in embedded microsystems, not only in relation to the loads involved but also in terms of resistance to shock and vibrations. In addition, its nonmagnetic design enable it to work under MRI without image interference, unlike conventional electric motors, opening up the field of medical applications. This concept is also available in rotative piezo micromotors, known as RSPA, offering the same advantages (position blocking, non-magnetic). Note that the core of the SPA motor is an APA® actuator whose reliability and robustness have been demonstrated via numerous embedded applications.

APA® are amplified piezoelectric actuators operating by deformation. They are compact, dynamic and precise. They have unique properties demonstrating their advanced performance: high force and displacement (up to 1 mm), compact size, high resolution within the nanometre range, very fast response times (under 1 ms), lifetime over 1010 cycles, low supply voltage (under 150V DC), no play or wear, low consumption in static use, non-magnetic, compatibility with demanding environments (vacuum, cryogenics, high temperature, etc.).

These products have enabled the development of innovative and varied medical applications. For instance, the Cardiolock is an active heart stabilisation system used during cardiac surgery, based on the APA®. The deformation exercised by the heart on the stabiliser is offset by a system that measures it and issues a command to the APA® for a movement to cancel it out. APA® technology has also been used in the development of an exoskeleton for muscular assistance, designed to restore mobility to the disabled. The artificial muscles produced by cell assembly of APA® microactuators offer 30% of active deformation, like natural muscles.

For its part, the LSPA30uXS linear piezo micromotor, although more recent, has already made it possible to produce intelligent microsystems for medication delivery or fluid control, implanted in the human body. These MRI-compatible LSPA motors are mainly designed for medical applications: motorisation of medical implants, endoscopic robots, etc. However, thanks to their small size, robustness and precision, they are also ideal for use in embedded systems such as motorisation of camera optics. Used for fast, precise actuation, these products also meet the demanding requirements of aerospace and industry.

SPA motors and APA® actuators are protected by several broad patents filed by CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES. The many technological advances made by CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES and its capacity for innovation in mechatronics have earned it many awards for innovation: OSEO Excellence, INPI, Golden Micron, Chéreau-Lavet.

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  • France
  • CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES

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