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David Henderson, President of New Scale Technologies, stated “The SQUIGGLE motor is a great example of
successful product miniaturization. If you want to make a product significantly smaller you can’t just put it on
the copy machine and push the shrink button. We have created a truly unique design, with only four parts, that
replaces electromagnetic motors with hundreds of parts. At the same time we achieve ten times greater precision,
speed and efficiency. We filed a patent in September 2003 and plan to make future SQUIGGLE motors even smaller.”
Miniature motion control is highly desired for nanotechnology tools used for scientific discovery and new product
development. For most applications “smaller equals more precise” because miniature systems move faster, resist
vibrations, and have lower thermal distortion.
SQUIGGLE motors make superior tools for biological research, microelectronics testing, vacuum and space instruments,
optical alignments and many other applications. A SQUIGGLE motor is about the size of a pen. A SQUIGGLE stage,
with one direction of movement, is smaller than a deck of cards. A SQUIGGLE robot, with three dimensions of motion,
is smaller than a coffee mug. These sizes are one half to one quarter the size of competitive products with similar
precision.
SQUIGGLE Motor Specifications
| Parameter |
Features |
| Size |
Diameter less than 10 mm. Length less than 20 mm. |
| Force |
Up to 5 N. |
| Resolution |
Better than 100 nm |
| Speed Range |
1 micrometer per second to 5 mm per second. |
| Range of Motion |
50 mm or more. |
| Off-Power Hold |
Yes. (Threads are self locking.) |
| Vacuum/Spacecraft |
Yes. (No lubrication or out gassing materials.) |
SQUIGGLE motors move both very slow and very fast. Smooth motion is achieved at microscopic speeds and also at
several millimeters per second. The SQUIGGLE motor offers a unique combination of range and precision. It is a
simple integrated solution for solving complex motion control problems. SQUIGGLE motors are ten times more
efficient than competitive products, which means they produce high force and speed while using little power.
SQUIGGLE Operating Principle
The SQUIGGLE motor uses a piezoelectric ceramic tube that supports two threaded nuts which hold a
threaded shaft. The tube is electrically driven at an ultrasonic frequency that you can’t hear or see.
The tube vibrates like person trying to keep a “Hula Hoop” up on their hips. The nuts orbit and the shaft
rotates and translates in and out. A video of the SQUIGGLE motor operating can be downloaded at
How They Work.
Piezoelectric Ceramics
Piezoelectric materials are solid ceramics that change shape when electrically excited. Piezo ceramics are
part of many consumer products. For example, when you push the button to light your gas grill a small hammer
is driven into a piezoelectric block which produces a high-voltage spark that ignites the propane. Another
example is the “beep” you hear when you push the wrong button on you PC keyboard. This sound is made by a
piezoelectric “buzzer”.
The shape change in piezo ceramics is small but very powerful and precise. New Scale Technologies creates
machines that use these small movements to perform useful work.
For more information please contact:
Fred Haas, Sales Manager, New Scale Technologies, Inc.
Phone 585-924-4450, FAX 585-924-4468
FHaas@newscaletech.com
www.newscaletech.com
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