Shear mode half rings can be manufactured from APC 850, APC 855, APC 840, APC 841, and APC 880 materials.

If desired, APC’s skilled in-house assembly team can bond two shear mode half rings using a conductive epoxy to create a shear cylinder.

Why consider a shear mode piezo half ring?

Sensing applications: piezoelectric ceramics poled in shear mode are approximately 20% more sensitive than piezoelectric ceramics poled in the standard 3-direction.

Piezo motor applications: by bonding two shear mode piezo half rings together with a conductive epoxy the user can easily create a piezo motor that moves in a circular motion.

Is a shear mode piezo half ring from APC right for your application?

Step 1: Calculate the Effective Shear Thickness (EST)

– EST = [(OD + ID)/4] x π

Step 2: Compare the EST to APC’s current manufacturing limitations

– EST < 0.825 in (20.95 mm)

– ID > (EST/6)

Step 3: Contact APC’s helpful sales representatives to discuss your application and receive a quotation.

A piezo actuator converts an electrical signal into a precisely controlled physical displacement, to finely adjust precision machining tools, lenses, or mirrors. Piezoelectric actuators are also used to control hydraulic valves, act as small-volume pumps or special-purpose motors, and in many other applications. Piezoelectric actuators are unaffected by energy efficiency losses that limit the miniaturization of electromagnetic motors, and have been constructed to sizes of less than one cubic centemeter. Another potentially important advantage of piezoelectric actuators in a motor application is the absence of electromagnetic noise. Further, if physical displacement is prevented, a piezo actuator will develop a usable force.

A stack actuator is constructed in one of two ways: discrete stacking or co-fired depending on the user’s requirements.

A stripe actuator or bending actuator, in which thin layers of piezoelectric ceramics are bonded together, allows the actuator to bend with a greater deflection but a lower blocking force than a stack actuator.

Review Resources for Piezo Stack Actuators

Learn More About Stripe and Bending Actuators

According to the University of Michigan, researchers at the University are experimenting with piezoelectric ceramics to convert the heart’s vibrations into a usable voltage to power a patient’s pacemaker.  Piezoelectric materials generate an electrical charge when they are acted upon by a mechanical force – in this case the the beating of the patient’s heart. Piezoelectric ceramics are physically strong, chemically inert, and immune to humidity or other atmospheric influences making them ideal for use in this pacemaker application.

Learn more about the research being carried out at the University of Michigan.

Learn more about the Generator Action of Piezoelectric Ceramics manufactured by APC International.

The APCPiezoCalc is available for free for a limited time in the Apple App Store.

Screen shots from the APC iPhone App

Coyote Case founder Jonathan Page recently spent the day at APC meeting with Dr. Weicheng Chen. Dr. Chen is formerly a lab director at Penn State University’s Center for Acoustics and Vibration. Dr. Chen now works hand-in-hand with American Piezo on many acoustics related projects. APC is pleased to have been given the opportunity to work with the team at Coyote Case to implement piezo technology into their innovative new smartphone case that will no doubt save lives.

APC offers a wide range or standard and custom piezoelectric bimorphs and unimorphs. APC International’s team of engineers would be happy to assist you with incorporating our piezo devices into your product.

For a limited time, you can pre-order the Coyote Case at a discount at www.indiegogo.com/coyotecase

To request design assistance on you next piezo device project contact an APC Representative.

APC offers four standard sheer mode plates available for quick delivery:

-       15mm x 15mm x 1mm – 850 material

-       15mm x 15mm x 1mm – 850 material w/ wrap-around electrode

-       15mm x 15mm x 1mm – 840 material

-       15mm x 15mm x 1mm – 840 material w/ wrap-around electrode

In addition to our standard plates, APC can also custom manufacture shear mode piezo plates specific for your application.

Consider using APC shear mode plates in your next piezo application requiring greater sensitivity or greater displacement.

The picture above is representative of APC’s 15mm x 15mm x 1mm shear mode plates. The notches indicate the positive face of the ceramic (red arrow indicates the poling direction).  Blue indicates epoxy silver.  Note the wrap-around electrode for easier lead attachment.

Typical applications for piezo cylinders include:

-Fine movement actuator

-Fiber optic stretching

-Piezo sensor application.

A piezo cylinder typically has silver electrodes on the outer diameter (OD) and inner diameter (ID) surfaces with leads attached to each surface. The movement of piezo cylinders is caused by a change in wall thickness when voltage is applied. The change in wall thickness causes movement in the length and diameter dimensions.

When a positive voltage is applied to the Cylinder:

-Wall thickness increases

-Outer diameter increases

-Length decreases

When a negative voltage is applied to the Cylinder:

-Wall thickness decreases

-Outer diameter decreases

-Length increases

Typical AC Frequency:  Less Than 100 Hz

Maximum AC Drive Voltage: 75 Vrms per / mm thk

Typical AC Drive Signal: Sine Wave or Square Wave

Typical DC Drive Voltage:  400 Vdc / mm thk (Positive Bias)

Typical DC Drive Voltage:  200 Vdc / mm thk (Negative Bias)

Maximum DC Drive Voltage:  800 Vdc / mm thk (Positive Bias)

Maximum DC Drive Voltage:  200 Vdc / mm thk (Negative Bias)

Piezo cylinders usually need to be bonded or fixed to a rigid surface for proper operation. Epoxy is often use to bond the cylinder to a non conductive rigid base. One possible epoxy to use is Loctite E-30CL.  However, we have also had success with many other epoxies.

Please note the above information does not consider the piezo cylinder impedance (Z) or power (W) requirements.

When providing piezo electric cylinders, APC assumes the buyer has knowledge and experience in the following areas.

- Basic understanding of piezoelectric ceramics

- Basic understanding of the electrical requirements

- Basic understanding of safety requirements.

Please contact APC if you do not understand this information or if you are using APC’s piezoelectric cylinders in a non-traditional application.

This post is the third in a series of posts to provide some general comments on product usage and safety. Please check back later for comments on other piezo products sold by APC International, Ltd.

APC 855 Consistently Delivers:

- Large Displacements

- High Sensitivity

- Stable Performance

- Higher Part Yields

- Less Lost Labor Dollars

- An excellent piezo material choice for sensing applications

Physical and Piezoelectric Properties of APC 855 Can be Found in the APC Materials section of our website.

1.65MHz Nebulizer Board RoHS (Cat#50-1011.1)

1.65MHz Nebulizer Replacement Assembly (Cat#50-1013)

1.65MHz Nebulizer Crystal (Cat#50-1014).

Typical applications for nebulizer products include:

- Ultrasonic humidification (most common use)

- Atomizing of a water based fluid

- High power ultrasonic transmitter

- Ultrasonic mixing in a water based fluid

- High power ultrasonic water treatment

Most customers first order APC’s 1.65MHz Nebulizer Board (Cat# 50-1011.1). The following describes the typical set-up and use of our standard nebulizer board:

- Designed to mount to the bottom of a plastic tank.

- Power 48 Vrms AC (or 48 Vdc – Please contact APC if using DC)

- The user must supply an on off level switch.

- A fluid depth of 1” – 2” must be maintained at all times.

- Do not apply power to the unit without fluid or damage will occur.

- Use distilled water and clean off crystal as required.

- Use of fluids other than water may cause damage to the nebulizer. Use is at your own risk.

- If planning to use a fluid other than water, the user should test first with a small percentage of the additive mixed with water.

- There are too many applications for APC to know or test, every application is unique and should be tested and evaluated by the user.

APC can provide custom Nebulizer Products: (Minimum Qty’s Apply)

- Cat# 50-1013; Lead length can be modified and connectors can be added (Minimum Qty 1,000 and Preferred Qty 10K +).

- Special design requests of nebulizer boards usually require a large quantity application (Minimum 10K  and Preferred Qty 100K+).

- Please contact APC with any custom requests.

When providing nebulizer products, APC assumes the buyer has knowledge and experience in the following areas.

- Basic understanding of ultrasonic transducers

- Basic understanding of the electrical requirements

- Basic understanding of safety requirements.

Please contact APC if you do not understand this information or if you are using APC’s nebulizer products in a non-traditional application.

This post is the second in a series of posts to provide some general comments on product usage and safety.  Please check back later for comments on other piezo products sold by APC International, Ltd.