Latch Release Blog Posts
All blog posts below are about latch releases using nitinol wire. Click on the image to see the whole post.
Volume ready customizable nitinol actuator
Volume Ready Customizable S125
The S125 is a volume-ready Shape Memory Alloy wire actuator, with a MOSFET switching & protection circuitry on a Printed Circuit Board substrate. The ideal uses are latch or trigger release mechanisms for battery-powered devices.
The S125 is a short-stroke latch-release or trigger-release mechanism featuring totally silent operation and thin profile typical of our Shape Memory Alloy constant-force actuators. (more…)
Advanced Low Profile SMA Actuator
Advanced Low-Profile SMA Actuator
-Our custom MOSFET/Protection Circuit is on each PCB-Actuator
-Typical 3-wire interface: Power, Ground, and Enable. When you raise the Enable line logic level HIGH, we energize until you lower the Enable. The actuator moves to the end of stroke, and ‘holds’ there safely until you release it (set Enable to Low).
-The actuators typically operate from 3 to 12 volts
-Typical stroke is in the 0.1″ to 0.25″ range
-Typical force is in the 0.5# to 5.0# range (more…)
Laptop lid Nitinol actuator latch
Laptop lid Nitinol actuator latch
Originally developed for a European laptop manufacturer. The SMA actuator electronically releases the tablet from keyboard/CPU, so you can have a stand alone tablet/touchscreen. SMA is able to provide high-force motion even in the extremely tight spaces within a laptop computer. This actuator, like all of our newer actuators, has an on-board MOSFET switching and protection circuit.
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Bluetooth controlled security latch for a Medical Cart
Bluetooth controlled security latch for a Medical Cart
This latch was designed for use for applications where security is needed in very tight spaces like a medical cart. This actuator provides motion along the short axis of the PC board. It’s shown operating with a 3.7 Volt Lithium-Ion cell.
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Latch Release Actuator
Latch Release Actuator
Latch Release with 1.5 pounds of force using shape memory alloy wire. This was used as a payload release mechanism for a large military drone.
This is a payload release on a life-cycle test fixture. Cycling against a 2-pound spring, powered by a 9V Duracell Lithium battery. An Arduino-based controller provides power for 0.150 seconds, then resting for 10 seconds before repeating. The onboard MOSFET switching and protection circuit senses the End Of Stroke position, and cuts power to the SMA wire to prevent overheating.
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Tiny Snap Action Flexure Nitinol Actuator
Tiny Snap Action Flexure Nitinol Actuator
This is a simple actuator using 0.008″ HT Flexinol to develop a bending mode operation. It is designed to operate at 2.5 Volts.
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Drone Payload Release
Drone Payload Release
These prototype devices have been used as drone payload release mechanisms and for protecting drugs in high security medical carts. They can be made very thin (less than 2 mm) and lightweight (less than 1 ounce) and can use very little energy to actuate. They can be used across a wide range of voltages, from 3.7 Volts – 30 Volts. They can be actuated with as little as 5 watts of power and can be made to hold in the actuated state with roughly 15% of the actuation power.
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Ganged Over-Stress Protected SMA actuator
Ganged Over-Stress Protected SMA actuator
This actuator has 7 mm of stroke at 125 pounds of force. These three ganged actuators operate in series and are an example of an over-stress protected actuator.
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1/4-Pound One-Way Solid State Latching Actuator
1/4-Pound One-Way Solid State Latching Actuator
A magnetic detent on one printed coil provides a preferred location for the magnet that is shared between the two coils. When the coil is energized the magnet escapes the detent and travels to the opposite side. When the coil is de-energized the magnet returns to the detent position.
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