Cedrat Technologies, innovation in mechatronics

We are delighted in announcing the successful test of our LPM20 linear piezoelectric motor, carried out in June this year at the CNES (French Agency Space), Toulouse in vacuum conditions.Developed for positioning applications, the piezoelectric motor has proved to be a very interesting solution thanks to its high massive force, its zero consumption at rest and its high precision. For space applications, it is a question of obtaining an identical behaviour in ambient and in vacuum conditions. However, the friction drive that is the key to the functioning of the piezoelectric motor, limits the lifespan and poses tribology problems.

Rare earth-iron magnetostrictive alloys, especially Terfenol-D, feature "giant" magnetostrains: static strains of 1000-2000 ppm and dynamic strains of 3500 ppm are reported.