19-03-2021 | Sateco | Connectors, Switches & EMECH
Sateco is breaking new ground and has added the SXTA silicone actuators to its portfolio of established keypad systems.
The dielectric elastomer actuators, additionally known as artificial muscles or electroactive polymers, can produce both haptic and tactile feedback. They are light, quiet, and ideal for many different applications such as automotive, AR, VR, gaming, robotics and general industry.
The base of the stack actuators is freely selectable and may be customised to the available area. Its soft material flexibly adjusts itself to curved surfaces and facilitates its seamless integration between the substrate and surface. Based on the electrostatic operating principle, the devices require little energy to maintain their positions. This provides for long-lasting battery operation, which is an essential feature for wearable devices.
The actuators’ elastomer material allows a large deflection of 4.5% of its length. It saves on further damping and preload elements, which simplifies the design and decreases manufacturing costs. The actuators can achieve both fast pulses and slow deformations while continuously starting and stopping any wanted deflection.
Due to their monolithic design, the actuators are strong, shock and impact-resistant, and also assure high durability, even in harsh environments at high (+85C) and low temperatures (40C).
Sateco XT at Lopec, March 23–25, 2021
