Micromechatronics, Inc. (MMech)

www.mmech.com - Ph: 814-861-5688

Noliac Actuators: Linear (CMA and SCMA)

Noliac Technology

Noliac's line of Ceramic Multilayer Actuators (CMA and SCMA) products is based on the company's advanced multilayer technology, harnessing the full potential of the piezoelectric effect at very low operating voltages.

Multilayer piezoelectric actuators (CMA) are ­co-fired multilayer ceramics typically with a height up to 2-3mm and with up to 100 ceramic layers.

Multilayer piezoelectric stack actuators (SCMA) are made of two or several single actuators (CMA) glued together. The purpose of the stacking is to obtain more displacement than can be achieved by a single actuator.

Ceramic multilayer actuators (CMA)

Multilayer piezoelectric actuators can be made very small, e.g. 1mm x 1mm x 0.2mm, and can be designed in a variety of geometries, such as squares, rings and discs.

The most common actuator geometry is a square with typical performance ranges up to 5µm stroke and up to 4000N blocking force.

Noliac has also developed ring or disc shape actuators with typical performance ranges up to 5µm stroke and up to more than 30000N blocking force.

Multilayer actuators are used in numerous applications within e.g. IT (hard disc drives), optics, telecommunications, instrumentation, automotive, nano-positioning, etc.

Highlights
CMAP CMAR
  • Square shape
  • Typical sizes are 3mm x 3mm, 5mm x 5mm, 7mm x 7mm and 10mm x 10mm
  • Blocking force up to 4000N
  • Full performances achievable with voltages down to 60V
  • No EMI
  • Ring shape
  • Typical sizes are OD6mm, OD8mm, OD12mm, OD15mm and OD20mm
  • Blocking force up to 8000N
  • Full performances achievable with voltages down to 200V
  • Better resistance to humidity than square shape actuators
  • Easy integration due to the ring or disc shape
Height up to 3mm

Quick response time (µS range)

Free displacement up to 5µm in the polarization direction

Low energy consumption

Choice of soft doped PZT for high stroke and hard doped PZT for low loss/ high frequency applications

Stacked ceramic multilayer actuators (SCMA)

Noliac's single actuators, plates (CMAP) and rings (CMAR), can be stacked. Thereby, the height can be made according to your needs. Stacked plates are called SCMAP and stacked rings are called SCMAR.

Noliac's stacking technology also offers a unique manufacturing flexibility as any actuator height can be made from a defined number of CMA's.

The most common actuator geometry is a square (SCMAP) with typical performance ranges up to 200µm stroke and up to 4000N blocking force.

Noliac has also developed ring shape actuators (SCMAR) with typical performance ranges up to 200µm stroke and up to more than 8000N blocking force.

Highlights
SCMAP SCMAR
  • Square or rectangle shapes
  • Typical cross sections are 3mm x 3mm, 5mm x 5mm, 7mm x 7mm and 10mm x 10mm
  • Height can be up to 10x the smallest cross section dimension, i.e. 100mm for a 10mmx10mm cross section
  • Blocking force up to 4000N
  • Full performances achievable with voltages down to 60V
  • Ring shape
  • Typical sizes are OD6mm, OD8mm, OD12mm, OD15mm and OD20mm
  • Height can be up to 10x outer diameter, i.e. 200mm for a 20mm outer diameter
  • Blocking force up to more than 8000N
  • Full performances achievable with voltages down to 200V
  • Better resistance to humidity than square shape actuators
  • Easy integration due to the ring shape
Free displacement up to 200µm in the height direction

Quick response time (µS range)

Low energy consumption

No EMI

Choice of soft doped PZT for high stroke and hard doped PZT for low loss applications