Piezoelectric actuators and motors meet the requirements of advanced high-precision mechatronic systems due to high resolution of motion in sub-micrometer or even nanometer range, short response time, scalable gear-free design with self-locking ability leading to simpler configuration of the system. In the development and research of piezoelectric high-resolution laser beam manipulation and positioning systems, the focus is usually on the static, dynamic and electromechanical characteristics of the systems. The aim is to achieve high energy efficiency and high resolutions of turning angle or straight-line displacement. When conducting numerical and experimental system studies, the influence of low- or medium-frequency destabilizing factors is usually only stated, the influence of these factors on resolution or other characteristics is indicated, and the application conditions of the studied system are defined, without a deeper analysis of the short-term or long-term effects of these factors on the reliability or service life of positioning systems. Thus, targeted and systematic research results of low- and medium-frequency destabilization factors for piezoelectric laser beam positioning systems with high resolutions would provide prerequisites for improving the reliability and stability of existing and newly developed piezoelectric positioning systems in continuous operation.
The aim of the project was to investigate the influence of systematic and non-systemic low and medium frequency destabilization factors on high-resolution piezoelectric laser beam positioning systems operating in continuous mode. To achieve the aim, numerical and experimental studies of the effect of systematic and non-systemic, low and medium frequency destabilization factors on the static, dynamic and resolution characteristics of linear and rotary motion high-resolution piezoelectric laser beam guidance and positioning systems were performed. Based on the obtained results, structural compensation solutions for destabilizing factors and improvements to algorithms for creating structural diagrams of high-resolution positioning systems were proposed. A new scalable piezoelectric 5-DOF robot was developed to provide planar and angular motion. Actuator designs were proposed that can provide unlimited self-motion in the plane and angular positioning of the spherical payload. Excitation of the actuator is based on a single harmonic signal, while control can be implemented using two digitally controlled switch boxes. Moreover, the design of the actuator allows reducing coupling between vibrations of the spherical contacts when planar or rotary motion is excited.
Project funding:
This research project is funded by the European Social Fund according to the 2014–2020 Operational Programme for the European Union Funds’ Investments, under measure’s No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712 activity “Promotion of postdoctoral fellowships studies”.
Project results:
Project was carried out by a post-doc researcher A.Čeponis. During his internship, a post-doc researcher went on two scientific internships abroad, i.e., from 16/08/2021 to 30/08/2021 (15 days) at CTS Ceramics Czech Republic, Czech Republic and from 13/06/2022 to 17/07/2022 (35 days), University of Paderborn, Germany. The knowledge and skills acquired during internships significantly increased the intern’s scientific competence and opportunities to conduct research at the international level. A post-doc researcher A.Čeponis participated in two international scientific conferences, where he presented the results of the conducted scientific research, participated in scientific discussions.
Project results were published as 3 articles in journals indexed in the Web of Science with Impact Factor (links below):
1. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/mi13101763
2. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app12052498
3. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app12031033
Period of project implementation: 2020-08-10 - 2022-08-08
Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology
