What is piezoelectric actuators?
Piezoelectric actuators are devices that produce a small displacement with a high force capability when voltage is applied. There are many applications where a piezoelectric actuator may be used, such as ultra-precise positioning and in the generation and handling of high forces or pressures in static or in dynamic situations. Actuator configuration can vary greatly depending on application. Piezoelectric stack actuators are manufactured by stacking up piezoelectric disks or plates, the axis of the stack being the axis of linear motion when a voltage is applied. Tube actuators are monolithic devices that contract laterally and longitudinally when a voltage is applied between the inner and outer electrodes. A disk actuator is a device in the shape of a planar disk. Ring actuators are disk actuators with a center bore, making the actuator axis accessible for optical, mechanical, or electrical purposes. Other less common configurations include block, disk, bender, and bimorph styles.
