Piezo technology for tough industrial environments

Highly Reliable PICMA® Multilayer Piezo Actuators: New Versions Available for Use Under Extreme Conditions

PI Ceramic has added PICMA® Stack multilayer piezo actuators that are encapsulated in a stainless steel casing to its standard product range. The encapsulation guarantees the reliability and superior lifetime of the multilayer piezo actuators even under extreme operating conditions, for example, when the application environment is characterized by oil, splash water or continuously high humidity. The multilayer piezo actuator is hermetically sealed in a stainless steel casing which is filled with dry inert gas. This encapsulation makes the PICMA® Stack multilayer piezo actuators suitable for use in rough industrial environments.

The multilayer piezo actuators with stainless steel casing are UHV-compatible to 10-9 hPa. A high displacement can already be achieved with a piezo voltage of -20 to 120 V.

Encapsulated versions of the multilayer piezo actuators are available in different sizes, e. g. Ø 11.2 × 22.5 mm for a stroke/displacement of 14 µm, and Ø 11.2 × 40.5 mm for a stroke/displacement of up to 30 µm. Higher forces can be generated with a version measuring Ø 18.6 × 22.5 mm which has a maximum stroke/displacement of 14 µm.

Case mounting is done by clamping or gluing the actuators. For electrical contacting, wire leads are led out of the case. The encapsulated PICMA® Stack multilayer piezo actuators can be manufactured in other sizes on request.

Since 1992, PI Ceramic (PIC) has been developing and manufacturing piezo ceramic materials and components for standard and OEM solutions: Piezo components, ultrasonic transducers, actuators, and system solutions. The PICMA® multilayer actuator technology, which received an award for its reliability, is one of many innovations of PIC. PI Ceramic, a subsidiary of PI (Physik Instrumente), is located in the city of Lederhose, Thuringia, Germany.