Custom engineering of ingeniously small motion systems
New Scale's engineering team creates disruptively small motion
systems that enable design engineers to create smaller products.
We work with our OEM partners to develop custom motion modules
and systems that meet your exact requirements, using our
configurable
M3 design platform
or developing a
full-custom motion module for a specific application.
We also work with leading development partners to continuously
advance the state of the art in miniature piezoelectric motion
systems. This page presents just a few examples.
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Custom engineering: from R&D and new product
development, to customized micro motion solutions for OEMs. |
M3 custom micro-mechatronics modules
New Scale's M3 Design Platform enables rapid development of
custom closed-loop micro actuator modules. No external control board
is necessary. You supply simple serial commands to drive an on-board PID
controller using a standard I2C or SPI interface. Modules
have low power consumption and 3.3V input voltage for
battery-powered operation.
Learn more about M3 modules
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Customizable
micro-mechatronics module accepts serial commands and a 3.3 V
input - no external control board is necessary. Configurations
include linear actuators (shown) and focus modules.
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UTAF™ Ultra-Thin Auto Focus module
New Scale's new patent-pending UTAF™ (Ultra-Thin Auto Focus)
modules were created for phone camera
applications. Based on our
patented UTAF motor, the UTAF module enables continuous auto
focus in an overall camera thickness
of less than 5 mm.
This invention is described in our technical paper,
"Continuous auto focus for next-generation phone cameras," by
David Henderson and Daniele Piazza, presented at the Actuator 2010
conference in Bremen.
Contact us to request a copy.
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The UTAF™ Ultra-Thin
AutoFocus module prototype enables cameras < 5 mm thick.
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Integrated module for optical zoom
Our custom zoom module reference design
for micro optics incorporates two SQUIGGLE
motors, two TRACKER position sensors and our dual motor drive ASIC
in a custom housing that measures only 6.5 x 13 x 23 mm. This reference design features:
- 4 mm optical zoom stroke
- 0.5 µm position resolution
- magnetic position sensor that needs no light source
- absolute position sensing (with external flash memory) - no
zero reference sensor needed
Read the application note |
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High-torque, thin rotary actuator module
This non-inductive rotary actuator module delivers higher power
output in a smaller footprint than electromagnetic pancake motors or
other piezoelectric actuators. Our proof of concept design has
torque of 0.17 N-m and speeds of more than 400 degrees per second in
a compact, 60 mm diameter by 8 mm thick design. Applications include
guided munitions and missile systems, MRI-compatible medical
devices, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) controls, gimbal systems and
computer equipment.
Read the news release
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This thin rotary actuator module generates high torque and speed in
a thin, small package. Inside the module, multiple piezo micro
motors generate tangential force on the outside diameter of a
rotating shaft, creating torque. Integrated in the module are drive
ICs (one per motor), along with an angular position sensor and
microprocessor for closed-loop positioning.
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High-torque rotary SQUIGGLE motor
This custom rotary SQUIGGLE motor has twice the torque of
similar-sized DC micro motors. It needs
no gear reduction mechanism, delivering high peak torque at
sustained speeds as well as high holding torque. The patented
SQUIGGLE design uses friction to directly drive the stator and lock
it in place with the power off. This rotary piezoelectric motor also
offers higher precision than DC micro motors.
This design can be optimized for other design parameters
including smaller size or higher speeds. It is scalable to less than
2 mm diameter. The chart below illustrates
the general tradeoff between motor diameter and torque.
The high torque rotary micro motors were developed for
NASA Jet Propulsion
Laboratory's "Cobra" fiber positioner to be commissioned on the
Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii in 2013.
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High-torque rotary
motors created for NASA JPL produce twice the torque of similar-sized
DC micro motors.
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Custom high-force motors
New Scale developed our flagship SQL-1.8 piezoelectric motor to
be the world's smallest linear motor. For applications where greater
push force or higher resolution are more important than absolute
smallest size, we offer custom SQUIGGLE motor systems to meet those
requirements. See the SQL-3.4
piezo motors (7 mm diameter) and
custom
SQ-100 piezo motors (12 mm diameter) for typical performance.
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Custom piezoelectric motor
offers 20 nm resolution and 50 mm of travel.
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Cryogenic, vacuum and UHV motors
Custom SQUIGGLE motors have been used for active alignment of
cooled optics in cryogenic
sensors (hyperspectral imaging systems) and in a cryostat at 6
Kelvins as part of a mechanism to accurately deform a cylindrical
superconducting microwave resonator in order to change its resonant
frequency (Cryogenics,
Volume 46, Issue 9, September 2006, Pages 694-696. (Free
access to Elsevier subscribers, $30 to non-subscribers, or
email us to receive a copy for personal use.
We have developed custom
vacuum motors for operation down to to 10-10 Torr for
precision in-vacuum alignment without mechanical feed-throughs.
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UHV SQUIGGLE motor
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Motorized closed-loop micro stages
We incorporate our motors and position sensors into miniature
positioning stages. One of our smallest examples uses an SQL-3.4-10
SQUIGGLE motor and a Hall-effect magnetic position sensor inside the
stage body. A benefit of the Hall-effect sensor is that it acts as
an absolute position sensor: working by measuring the field along a
magnetic strip, it retains position information even after
power-down cycles. The SQUIGGLE motor is mounted onto the bottom
plate and the screw is pressed against the end of the top plate, which
is spring loaded against the screw. Used with the MC-1100
controller, this closed-loop stage has 10 microns resolution over 2
mm of travel. A high-resolution controller with 16-bit A/D converter
achieves a resolution of less than one micron.
We have also developed a
20-nm
resolution closed-loop stage that integrates a piezoelectric
SQUIGGLE motor with crossed roller bearings and glass scale encoder.
These stages support vertical loads of 200 to 500 grams with high
stiffness and negligible heating.
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Custom closed-loop linear positioning stage
is the smallest on
the market.
Closed-loop stage with 5N force and 20 nm
resolution in a 17 mm profile.
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Learn more
We work with our OEM partners to develop custom motion modules
and systems that meet your exact requirements, using our
configurable
M3 design platform
or developing a
full-custom motion module for a specific application.
Contact our custom development team to learn more.
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