利用振動作為驅動原理的致動器一般多見於超音速馬達或是進料器,超音速馬達能產生非常大的扭力以及輸出能量,但由於超音速馬達驅動的特殊性,一般而言其需要相較複雜的機構以及設計,例如皮帶論或是齒輪組。進料器本身則並沒有被太大的應用。 本篇研究發產出一利用纖毛振動作為驅動力的線性致動器,其具有好組裝、原理簡單、設計清晰的優點,致動器由兩個部分組成:一是由軟性壓電材料所構成的懸臂樑,另一方面則是利用尼龍材質的魔鬼氈所構成的纖毛。由於魔鬼氈構成的纖毛本身具有一與基底相互傾斜的角度,造成當物體在其上移動時在不同方向會有不同大小的磨擦係數,所以當懸臂量上下擺動的時候,纖毛會有相對往復的運動,而不同大小的磨擦係數造成了上面的物體時而被帶動時而單純滑動,如此的往復循環,纖毛上的物體即被往其傾斜的方向帶動了。 除此之外,本篇論文針對此線性致動器推導了一根據幾何關係產生的數學模型,模型中能根據擺懸臂樑擺動的振幅計算出致動器的推動力及物體的移動速度,其最大值分別為 1.6 μm 以及 4 mm/s 並且都發生在整個機構的共振頻下。而機構設計本身也兼顧了易於組裝以及能夠方便實驗觀察的特性,設計本身是一個隧道狀的盒子,當需要實驗觀察時,上蓋可以拆開,隧道狀的設計可以讓物體在內便於被驅動,內部的兩個夾具可用於固定懸臂樑並可依設計決定懸臂量的長度,整個模型是由壓克力板所構成,使用雷射切割機能夠相當有效的裁切出想要的形狀使整個設計的製造也能夠往大量生產的方向發展。
Actuators based on vibration are typically found in ultrasonic motors and part feeder. The former can generate a fairly large torque and a high energy density; however, specific mechanisms such as belt drives or motion guides are necessary for the movement of objects that have various shapes. The latter is not that convenient for engineering application due to the driving force which is dominated by the mass of the objects and the friction coefficient. An easy way to assemble linear actuator has been developed by utilizing the vibration of angled thin short fibers—cilia vibration (CV). The actuator consists of a cantilever beam made of PVDF piezo film and Velcro cilia. The cilia array is made of nylon fiber bounded with a plastic resin and angled to the object so that it has directional flexure and anisotropic friction. When the cantilever beam vibrates, a standing-up and falling-down motion of the cilia linearly drives objects out of two plates, realizing a linear movement. A theoretical model for the actuator based on geometry of the device is established. A maximum driving speed of 4 mm/s occurs at 300 Hz which is the nature frequency of the device. And the driving force is theoretically calculated as 1.6 μm which were obtained at the vibration frequency of 300 Hz. Also, a prototype of the CV actuator was developed. The prototype is made of acrylic plate fabricated by laser cutting machine. A box-tunnel like shape, two holders and a latch fit bottom constitute the device and make it easy to assemble and for observation.