Abstract: This paper presents a miniature positioning device using
Iron-Gallium alloy (Galfenol). Galfenol is a ductile magnetostrictive material
with magnetostriction more than 200 ppm, Young's modulus of 70 GPa and high
permeability. The actuator consists of a small pin of Galfenol, 1 mm diameter
fabricated by ultra high precision cutting, winding coil, housing, and brass
mover clamped on a frictional rod. The movement is based on the smooth impact
drive mechanism, where the mover frictionally supported is moved step by step
by inertia force with the rapid expansion and slow contract of the Galfenol
pin. The miniature device driven less than 3 V was verified the velocity of
1 mm/s at driving frequency of 2 kHz with no-traveling limit, which will be
applicable for positioning mechanism for mobile electronics.
