High-Bandwidth, Large stroke actuator fro active control applications

Active Control eXperts, Inc. (ACX) proposes to apply its expertise in actuator and control system design to high force, high bandwidth machine tool position control applications. ACX proposes to develop novel hybrid linear actuators which can operate at high loads (greater than 1000 lbs.) at high bandwidths (in excess of 200 Hz), and at high displacements (0.018 inches). This innovative solid-state hydraulic actuator is well suited to machine tool applications. These highly efficient actuators are designed to reduce driving voltages and permit higher displacements compared with other actuators of similar size and weight. Further, these actuators can be easily instrumented to provide important response measurements such as collocated displacement and loading. This data can be fed back to the actuator in an internal servo loop to improve system accuracy and reliability. Solid-state actuators will be designed, built and tested in Phase I to demonstrate feasibility of the concept. One of the prototype actuators also will be instrumented and internal servo loop designs to enhance the accuracy and repeatability of the actuator will be designed and implemented. A set of appropriate machine tool applications also will be identified as part of the Phase I work, as will actuator instrumentation and controller designs for the identified machine tool applications. In a Phase II demonstration the prototype will be integrated into an actual machine tool application. Anticipated Benefits: Solid-state hydraulic actuators with forces of approximately 1000 pounds, displacements of 0.018 inches, and bandwidths of approximately 200 Hz have a multitude of applications, including its intended use as a machine tool precision position control mechanism. Further, through scaling, the actuator can be used for motion control and vibration suppression applications in robotics, printing press operations, and other high static and dynamic load and high bandwidth precision applications.