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Actuators Presentation

The document introduces actuators, which are devices that convert energy into motion and can be classified into thermal, electric, manual, and hydraulic/pneumatic types. It discusses various actuator types at both macro and micro scales, including examples like electric motors and MEMS actuators. The content is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and is intended for educational purposes.

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patelmashim1007
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23 views12 pages

Actuators Presentation

The document introduces actuators, which are devices that convert energy into motion and can be classified into thermal, electric, manual, and hydraulic/pneumatic types. It discusses various actuator types at both macro and micro scales, including examples like electric motors and MEMS actuators. The content is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and is intended for educational purposes.

Uploaded by

patelmashim1007
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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INTRODUCTION TO

ACTUATORS

Micro-sized polysilicon
mirror with drive motors
consisting of combdrives
and gears.
[Courtesy of Sandia National
Laboratories, SUMMiT(TM)
Technologies, www.mems.sandia.gov]

Introduction to Actuators Learning Module


Unit Overview
The following topics will be discussed:
v What are actuators?
v Types of actuators in both the macro and
microscales.
What are Actuators?

Types of actuators: electric motor, gear train, screw jack


[Image of microgears courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories, SUMMiT(TM) Technologies, www.mems.sandia.gov]

v An actuator actuates or moves something.


v An actuator uses some type of energy to provide motion or to
apply a force.
Types of Actuators

v Manual or mechanical
v Hydraulic/Pneumatic
v Thermal
v Electric
Thermal Actuators

v Converts thermal energy into motion


v Utilizes an effect called thermal expansion.

If the joined metals are heated, in what direction will they bend – up or down?
Bimetallic Switch

Vertical Thermal Actuators


[Images courtesy of Southwest Research Institute.
Copyright SwRI.]
Electric Actuators

An electric motor is a transducer AND an actuator because it


converts an electric current into a large magnetic field which then
turns a shaft (mechanical energy).
Schematics of an Electric Motor

Shaft

Coils

Rotor

V
Mechanical Actuators

v Anything that requires a


mechanical input and causes
motion
v A Screw Jack is one example

A screw jack converts rotational energy into


linear motion
MEMS Actuators

v Electrostatic Comb drive


v Uses in resonators, microengines, gyroscopes

SEM of a typical comb-drive resonator


[Courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories]
Questions

v When was the last time that you “actuated” something?


v What did you do?
v What was the actuator?
v What was moved?
Summary
v An actuator is a device that converts energy into
motion.
v Actuators can be thermal, electric, manual, or
hydraulic/pneumatic.
v Actuators are found in both the macro and micro-
scales.
Acknowledgements
Made possible through grants from the National Science Foundation
Department of Undergraduate Education #0830384, 0902411, and 1205138.
Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in
this material are those of the authors and creators, and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Southwest Center for Microsystems Education (SCME) NSF ATE Center


© 2010 Regents of the University of New Mexico

Content is protected by the CC Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike


license.
Website: www.scme-nm.org
Revised May 2017

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