© Fraunhofer IPMSBasic concept NED-Inchworm motor: blocks of actuators on both sides of a feed element, can push it up or down in the plane. Clamping here occurs electrostatically.
At the leading trade fair for industrial automation "all about automation", Fraunhofer IPMS presented the latest developments in industrial and production control. For example, the micromechanical systems developed by the research institute support the ongoing miniaturization of components and devices, which is essential for any fast-growing technical industry.
The "all about automation" (aaa) is the leading trade fair for systems, components, software and engineering for industrial automation and communication. At the trade show, the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS presented to regional users, for example, solutions for micropositioning, contactless analysis of substances, or the latest LiDAR technologies.
Novel electrostatic micropositioning platform
One of this year's research highlights of Fraunhofer IPMS presented at the aaa were micropositioning platforms. These are systems in which a defined, usually centrally located surface can perform highly precise lateral, rotational, tilting or lifting movements as well as combinations of these. Fraunhofer IPMS developed electrostatic bending transducers for this purpose. The drive is based on Nanoscopic Electrostatic Drives, or NED for short. This is based on a novel micro-electro-mechanical actuator principle. It enables large displacements with low control voltages to be achieved with high micro-positioning accuracy and extremely low energy requirements. An alternative indirect drive is provided in the form of the "inchworm" principle, which allows larger precise travel ranges.
Applications of the micropositioning platform can be found, for example, in the active and precise positioning of system components, such as sample placement. Other areas of application include optical analytics for particularly flat and mobile microscopy systems, high-precision optical setups or medical instruments such as micro-endoscopes or the focus lens in laser scalpels.
More information on the research of Fraunhofer IPMS can also be found online.