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New Scale makes its cryogenic SQUIGGLE motor even smaller; targets portable imaging applications

At 3.4 x 3.4 x 10 mm, the miniature cryogenic SQUIGGLE motor offers high force with up to 30 mm travel

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.

For more information contact:

Fred Haas, Sales Manager, New Scale Technologies
Phone 585-924-4450 x 112
fhaas@newscaletech.com

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