Design of a novel piezoelectric inchworm actuator

This paper presents a novel proof-of-concept design of an inchworm-type piezoelectric actuator. The proposed design uses two parallel linear guiding rods with ball bearings as a guide different from the previous configurations which adopt a guide channel or a moving shaft. Finite element analysis has been used to achieve the optimal design parameters with the frame stiffness, the dynamic performance and the fatigue strength of the frame material considered simultaneously. A prototype was constructed and partially tested and further tests are underway to quantify the performance of the actuator.