GB2597167A - A method of manufacturing SMA actuators - Google Patents
A method of manufacturing SMA actuators Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2597167A GB2597167A GB2115698.9A GB202115698A GB2597167A GB 2597167 A GB2597167 A GB 2597167A GB 202115698 A GB202115698 A GB 202115698A GB 2597167 A GB2597167 A GB 2597167A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- actuator
- wire
- connectors
- strip
- wires
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03G7/00—Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for
- F03G7/06—Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for using expansion or contraction of bodies due to heating, cooling, moistening, drying or the like
- F03G7/065—Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for using expansion or contraction of bodies due to heating, cooling, moistening, drying or the like using a shape memory element
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B26/00—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements
- G02B26/08—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
- G02B26/0816—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light by means of one or more reflecting elements
- G02B26/0833—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light by means of one or more reflecting elements the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD
- G02B26/0866—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light by means of one or more reflecting elements the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD the reflecting means being moved or deformed by thermal means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/02—Viewing or reading apparatus
- G02B27/022—Viewing apparatus
- G02B27/023—Viewing apparatus for viewing X-ray images using image converters, e.g. radioscopes
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacture Of Motors, Generators (AREA)
- Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)
- Wire Processing (AREA)
Abstract
A method of manufacturing SMA actuators and an apparatus for manufacturing SMA actuators are provided. Each actuator has two SMA actuator wires, and each actuator wire is connected between a respective first connector at a first end of the actuator and a respective second connector at a second end of the actuator such that the actuator wires cross in the actuator. The method includes the steps of: supplying a strip which has a plurality of actuator blanks formed therein in a continuous pattern, each actuator blank comprising the connectors of one of said actuators; repeatedly, for each actuator blank in the strip, positioning the actuator wires in relation to the connectors and joining the actuator wires to the connectors. For adjacent pairs of actuator blanks in the strip, the actuator wires may be supplied via one actuator blank to the next actuator blank.
Claims (28)
1. A method of manufacturing SMA actuators, each actuator having two SMA actuator wires, each actuator wire being connected between a respective first connector at a first end of the actuator and a respective second connector at a second end of the actuator such that the actuator wires cross in the actuator, the method including the steps of: supplying a strip which has a plurality of actuator blanks formed therein in a continuous pattern, each actuator blank comprising the connectors of one of said actuators; repeatedly, for each actuator blank in the strip, positioning the actuator wires in relation to the connectors and joining the actuator wires to the connectors, wherein, for adjacent pairs of actuator blanks in the strip, the actuator wires are supplied via one actuator blank to the next actuator blank.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the connectors are crimps and the step of joining the actuator wires to the connectors includes closing a crimp so that an actuator wire is gripped between opposing parts of the crimp.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein positioning the actuator wires in relation to the connectors may comprise laying the actuator wires between the first and second connectors in a direction that is at least substantially along the length of the strip.
4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of positioning the actuator wires includes laying an actuator wire approximately along the direction between the first and second connectors and moving the actuator wire laterally so that it engages with the connectors.
5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of moving the actuator wire includes lifting the actuator wire over at least one protrusion from the strip.
6. A method according to claim 4 or claim 5 further including the step of holding the actuator wire in position after it has been laterally moved.
7. A method according to claim 6 further including the step of forming one or more protrusions from the strip to hold the actuator wire in position.
8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims further including the step of, after joining the actuator wires to the connectors of an actuator, forming one or more protrusions from the strip which links the first connectors or the second connectors.
9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the actuators are manufactured such that each actuator wire in an actuator is slack between the connectors when the wire is at a temperature of 25°C.
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the step of positioning the actuator wires includes passing the actuator wire around one or more protrusions which cause the actuator wire between the first connector and the second connector to deviate from the direct path between those connectors.
11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the protrusions are formed on the strip and the method further includes the step of removing said protrusions after the actuator wire has been joined to its respective connectors.
12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the protrusions are provided on a die and the method further includes the steps of, before positioning the actuator wire, introducing the die into the strip so that the protrusions are positioned between the first and second connectors and, after joining the actuator wire, removing the die from the strip.
13. A method according to claim 9 wherein the method includes the further step, after the step of positioning the actuator wires and before the step of joining the actuator wires to the connectors, of increasing the amount of actuator wire between each connector.
14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the step of increasing the amount of actuator wire includes applying a force on the actuator wire perpendicular to the direction of the laying of the wire.
15. A method of manufacturing an SMA actuator assembly, the method comprising a method according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator assembly comprises one or more of the SMA actuators.
16. An apparatus for manufacturing SMA actuators, each actuator having two SMA actuator wires, each actuator wire being connected between a respective first connector at a first end of the actuator and a respective second connector at a second end of the actuator such that the actuator wires cross in the actuator, the apparatus comprising: a strip feed mechanism arranged to guide an elongate strip through the apparatus, the strip having a plurality of actuator blanks formed therein in a continuous pattern, each actuator blank comprising the connectors of one of said actuators; a wire feed mechanism arranged to supply an SMA actuator wire and position it in relation to the connectors; and a joining mechanism arranged to join the actuator wires to the connectors, wherein, for adjacent pairs of actuator blanks in the strip, the apparatus is configured to supply the actuator wires via one actuator blank to the next actuator blank.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the connectors are crimps and the joining mechanism is a press tool which engages with a crimp so as to close opposing sides of the crimp onto the actuator wire.
18. An apparatus according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein, when positioning the actuator wires in relation to the connectors, the wire feed mechanism is configured to lay the actuator wires between the first and second connectors in a direction that is at least substantially along the length of the strip.
19. An apparatus according to claim 16 or claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the wire feed mechanism is arranged to lay an actuator wire approximately along the direction between the first and second connectors and wherein the apparatus further comprises an engagement portion which is arranged to engage with an actuator wire and move it so that it engages with the connectors.
20. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the engagement portion is arranged to lift the actuator wire over at least one protrusion from the strip.
21. An apparatus according to claim 19 or claim 20 further including a press tool arranged to form one or more protrusions from the strip after the actuator wire has been moved by the engagement portion, wherein the protrusions are arranged to hold the actuator wire in position after it has been laterally moved.
22. An apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 21 further including a tool arranged to form one or more protrusions from the strip which link the first connectors or the second connectors.
23. An apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 22 wherein the apparatus is arranged to manufacture the actuators such that each actuator wire in an actuator is slack between the connectors when the wire is at a temperature of 25°C.
24. An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the wire feed mechanism is arranged to position the actuator wires around one or more protrusions such that an actuator wire between the first connector and the second connector deviates from the direct path between those connectors.
25. An apparatus according to claim 24 further including a tool arranged to form said protrusions on the strip prior to the strip reaching the wire feed mechanism and a tool arranged to remove said protrusions after the strip has passed the joining mechanism.
26. An apparatus according to claim 24 further including a die on which said protrusions are formed, wherein the apparatus is arranged to introduce the die into the strip so that the protrusions are positioned between the first and second connectors prior to the strip reaching the wire feed mechanism and remove the die from the strip after the strip has passed the joining mechanism.
27. An apparatus according to claim 23 further including a wire extending mechanism arranged between the wire feed mechanism and the joining mechanism, the wire extending mechanism being arranged to increase the amount of actuator wire between each connector in an actuator.
28. An apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the wire extending mechanism is arranged to applying a force on the actuator wire perpendicular to the direction of the laying of the wire.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB1906392.4A GB201906392D0 (en) | 2019-05-07 | 2019-05-07 | Actuator assemblies and methods of manufacturing the same |
| PCT/GB2020/051135 WO2020225574A1 (en) | 2019-05-07 | 2020-05-07 | A method of manufacturing sma actuators |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB202115698D0 GB202115698D0 (en) | 2021-12-15 |
| GB2597167A true GB2597167A (en) | 2022-01-19 |
| GB2597167B GB2597167B (en) | 2023-06-07 |
Family
ID=67384818
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB1906392.4A Ceased GB201906392D0 (en) | 2019-05-07 | 2019-05-07 | Actuator assemblies and methods of manufacturing the same |
| GB2115698.9A Active GB2597167B (en) | 2019-05-07 | 2020-05-07 | A method of manufacturing SMA actuators |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB1906392.4A Ceased GB201906392D0 (en) | 2019-05-07 | 2019-05-07 | Actuator assemblies and methods of manufacturing the same |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CN (1) | CN113795669A (en) |
| GB (2) | GB201906392D0 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2020225574A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2022136885A1 (en) * | 2020-12-27 | 2022-06-30 | Cambridge Mechatronics Limited | Actuators |
| GB2605640A (en) * | 2021-04-08 | 2022-10-12 | Cambridge Mechatronics Ltd | Actuator fabrication |
| GB2609498B (en) * | 2021-08-06 | 2023-12-27 | Cambridge Mechatronics Ltd | Apparatus and methods for assembling an actuating module |
| GB2611338B (en) * | 2021-09-30 | 2024-04-03 | Cambridge Mechatronics Ltd | Apparatus and methods for assembling an actuating module |
| CN113960739B (en) * | 2021-10-26 | 2022-05-17 | 上海信迈电子科技有限公司 | Lens driving device, image pickup device, and mobile terminal |
| GB202117956D0 (en) * | 2021-12-13 | 2022-01-26 | Cambridge Mechatronics Ltd | Shape memory alloy sub-assemblies |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20120174572A1 (en) * | 2011-01-10 | 2012-07-12 | Donato Clausi | Method for mechanical and electrical integration of sma wires to microsystems |
| WO2016189314A1 (en) * | 2015-05-26 | 2016-12-01 | Cambridge Mechatronics Limited | Assembly method for a shape memory alloy actuator arrangement |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2451972B (en) | 2006-03-30 | 2010-06-30 | 1 Ltd | Camera lens actuation apparatus |
| WO2011104518A1 (en) | 2010-02-26 | 2011-09-01 | Cambridge Mechatronics Limited | Sma actuation apparatus |
| GB201019532D0 (en) | 2010-11-18 | 2010-12-29 | Cambridge Mechatronics Ltd | Optical image stablisation drive |
| WO2013118601A1 (en) * | 2012-02-07 | 2013-08-15 | コニカミノルタホールディングス株式会社 | Drive device and lens unit |
| JP6289451B2 (en) | 2012-05-25 | 2018-03-07 | ケンブリッジ メカトロニクス リミテッド | Shape memory alloy actuator |
| GB201220485D0 (en) | 2012-11-14 | 2012-12-26 | Cambridge Mechatronics Ltd | Control of an SMA actuation apparatus |
-
2019
- 2019-05-07 GB GBGB1906392.4A patent/GB201906392D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2020
- 2020-05-07 WO PCT/GB2020/051135 patent/WO2020225574A1/en active Application Filing
- 2020-05-07 GB GB2115698.9A patent/GB2597167B/en active Active
- 2020-05-07 CN CN202080034073.6A patent/CN113795669A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20120174572A1 (en) * | 2011-01-10 | 2012-07-12 | Donato Clausi | Method for mechanical and electrical integration of sma wires to microsystems |
| WO2016189314A1 (en) * | 2015-05-26 | 2016-12-01 | Cambridge Mechatronics Limited | Assembly method for a shape memory alloy actuator arrangement |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB202115698D0 (en) | 2021-12-15 |
| CN113795669A (en) | 2021-12-14 |
| GB201906392D0 (en) | 2019-06-19 |
| WO2020225574A1 (en) | 2020-11-12 |
| GB2597167B (en) | 2023-06-07 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| GB2597167A (en) | A method of manufacturing SMA actuators | |
| JP5598887B1 (en) | Wire crimping apparatus and wire crimping method | |
| JP2015005521A5 (en) | ||
| KR101647573B1 (en) | Power line shifting device | |
| US9608338B2 (en) | Cylindrical body, crimp terminal, and manufacturing method thereof, as well as manufacturing apparatus of crimp terminal | |
| US9450137B2 (en) | Apparatus and method for mounting contact wires on solar cell wafers | |
| JP6543304B2 (en) | Electric wire with terminal, terminal crimping apparatus, and method of manufacturing electric wire with terminal | |
| EP0703646B1 (en) | Process and device for wiring the terminals of components of electrical apparatus | |
| US20100288819A1 (en) | Method and device for connecting a cable to an electrical connection elements | |
| JP2013536559A (en) | Conveying mechanism for terminal crimping machine | |
| US2914976A (en) | Crimping tool with double-ended floating die member | |
| DE102017218106A1 (en) | Method for manufacturing a wire with a connection part and crimp connection part | |
| JP2668779B2 (en) | Termination device for wiring harness | |
| CN106605274A (en) | Apparatus for manufacturing wire harness and method for manufacturing wire harness | |
| WO2018100985A1 (en) | Jig for setting twisted wire, and terminal crimping device | |
| JP6404295B2 (en) | Terminal crimping device | |
| US8555489B2 (en) | Crimp assembly for a terminal crimping machine | |
| WO2018100990A1 (en) | Terminal holding tool, terminal crimping device, and method for producing terminal-equipped twisted wire | |
| DE4102425C2 (en) | Cable manufacturing device | |
| US5933932A (en) | Apparatus for making electrical harness | |
| TW201741525A (en) | Manufacturing device and manufacturing method for steel cord-embedded rubber sheet | |
| GB1251622A (en) | ||
| JP6117256B2 (en) | Terminal crimping device | |
| JP7027008B2 (en) | Wire manufacturing method with terminals and terminal crimping equipment | |
| EP3520179A1 (en) | Device, method, and system for inverse crimping |