Miniature spherical motor using iron-gallium alloy (Galfenol)

Toshiyuki Ueno; Chihiro Saito; Nobuo Imaizumi; Toshiro Higuchi

doi:10.1117/12.776490

2 April 2008 Miniature spherical motor using iron-gallium alloy (Galfenol)

Toshiyuki Ueno, Chihiro Saito, Nobuo Imaizumi, Toshiro Higuchi

Proceedings Volume 6929, Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional and Composite Materials 2008; 69291V (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.776490
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We propose a miniature spherical motor using iron-gallium alloy (Galfenol). This motor consists of four rods of Galfenol with square cross-section, a wound coil, a permanent magnet, an iron yoke and a spherical rotor placed on the edge of the rods. The magnetomotive force of the magnet provides bias magnetostriction for the rods and an attractive force that maintains the rotor on the rods. When currents of 180 deg phase difference flow in pairs of opposing coils, a torque is exerted on the rotor is by pushing (expansion) and pulling (contraction) of the rods. Rotation about a single axis is realized by a sawtooth current, such that the rotor rotates with slow expansion and slips at the rapid contraction. The motor can be fabricated at small sizes and driven with a low voltage, suitable for application as a microactuator for rotating the camera and mirror in endoscopes.

Citation Download Citation

Toshiyuki Ueno, Chihiro Saito, Nobuo Imaizumi, and Toshiro Higuchi "Miniature spherical motor using iron-gallium alloy (Galfenol)", Proc. SPIE 6929, Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional and Composite Materials 2008, 69291V (2 April 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.776490

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