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April 9, 2007 - VICTOR, NY - New Scale
Technologies, Inc. has has created a custom cryogenic version of its
tiny SQL Series piezoelectric
SQUIGGLE motor, the company announced today at the SPIE Defense
& Security Symposium in Orlando, Florida. The custom SQL-3.4-cryo
operates continuously from room temperature to cryogenic
temperatures (77 Kelvins and below).
At only 3.4 x 3.4 x 10 mm, the custom SQL-3.4-cryo is one fourth the
size of the company’s SQ-100-C cryogenic SQUIGGLE motor, commonly
used in laboratory applications. The smaller SQL-3.4-cryo motor was
created for applications such as portable sensors, where system
miniaturization is desired. It is currently used to align cooled
optics at 100 Kelvins in a cryogenic sensor developed for a military
customer.
Cooled optics greatly improve image quality for cryogenic sensor
applications such as hyperspectral imaging. Until now, the alignment
of cooled optics has been an hours-long process requiring the
operator to align the optics at room temperature, cool the sensor,
test the alignment, note corrections, bring the sensor to room
temperature, make adjustments, and repeat. The SQUIGGLE motor
completely eliminates this time-consuming process by allowing
precise, active alignment of the optics at any temperature.
"The SQUIGGLE motor is a unique solution for cryogenic
nanopositioning," said David Henderson, co-CEO and chief technology
officer at New Scale. "Conventional electromagnetic motors do not
work at all at cryogenic temperatures. Other piezoelectric motors
lack the SQUIGGLE motor’s high push force and sub-micron position
resolution."
The SQL-3.4-cryo motor provides up to 30 mm of travel and holds its
position with the power off. Its tiny size and low power draw
minimize heat load in the cryostat.
Typical performance of the SQL-3.4-cryo-custom SQUIGGLE motor
- Motor body dimensions: 3.4 x 3.4 x 10 mm
- Travel range: custom; up to 30 mm (determined by screw
length)
- Resolution: 0.5 micrometers
- Speed: (100 g load) 5 mm/sec
- Stall force: > 100 g
- Operating temperature: Room temp to < 77 Kelvins
- Off-power position hold
New Scale offers a credit-card sized driver card for the SQL motor
and provides engineering assistance to OEMs wishing to design their
own drive circuits. The custom SQL-3.4-cryo SQUIGGLE motor is
available to qualified OEMs with approximately 12 weeks delivery.
About New Scale Technologies, Inc.
New Scale Technologies, Inc. (www.newscaletech.com)
makes miniature ceramic motors that enable our customers to create
smaller products and research tools. Our patented piezoelectric
SQUIGGLE motors are half the size of competing micromotors and offer
ten times better position resolution and push force. With only seven
parts and no gears, SQUIGGLE motors are more efficient and precise
than conventional electromagnetic motors. These ultrasonic motors
are compatible with extreme environments including vacuum, cryogenic temperatures, and high magnetic fields including MRI
chambers. SQUIGGLE motors are used in microelectronics, optics,
lasers, biotechnology, medical devices, electronic locks,
intelligent fasteners, aerospace and defense, fluid
control, nanotechnology research, and office/consumer products
including mobile phone cameras.
SQUIGGLE is a registered trademark of New Scale Technologies, Inc.
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