What is MechaTrans®?
Piezoelectric device generates a required displacement with low voltage. The electrical energy can be converted to mechanical energy at 60% of the conversion efficiency rate. For example, a piezoelectric device of 10mm × 10mm cross section size produces 3,500N(357kgf). However, as the displacement to be generated ranges from a few μm up to 40μm, the application fields should be limited due to the very small displacement. In order to overcome the disadvantage, Mechano Transformer Corporation has developed the displacement enlargement mechanism by using an unique lever principle. The enlarged displacement achieves one hundred times of the piezoelectric device itself. The displacement enlargement mechanism is a kind of a passive structure and no additional energy is required. As the mechanism is similar principle to a transformer which is used in electric circuits, it was called mechanical transformer but has been abbreviated to MechaTrans® later on and registered as a trademark in Japan. MechaTrans® was originally named only for the displacement enlargement mechanism but currently it is used as the actuator with a piezoelectric device.
Features of MechaTrans®
High energy efficiency
The conversion efficiency rate of MechaTrans® from the electrical energy to the mechanical energy should be 25%, including the displacement enlargement mechanism. Moreover, the current to retain a certain displacement is very small.
High-speed operation
MechaTrans® is capable of high-speed operation compared to the usual actuators such as electromagnetic type.
The resonance frequency which means the drive limitation is explained at the paragraph 3 of the technical notes.
Effective space utility
MechaTrans® is compact, especially in the thickness dimensions, compared to electromagnetic types of actuators with the same displacement and/or force.
Easy to use
MechaTrans® is easy to use because the displacement is proportional to the supply voltage. If it is required to control the displacement more precisely, aside from the hysteresis to be appeared by the input direction of the supply voltage, it is recommended to add a displacement sensor to the system. More details about this are explained at "Operating precautions for MechaTrans®".
Application fields of MechaTrans®
It is said that "actuator" is a general term for a motion mechanism.
Our MechaTrans® is also a kind of an actuator which is applicable to industrial fields, medical, automotive, consumer products, aircraft, aerospace, agriculture and so on.
MechaTrans® is available for not only straight motion, but also rotary motion.
