Flow Controller For Microactuators

Cutting-edge microfluidic flow controller for microactuators

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are designed to control the movement of tiny instruments. Different energy sources can be used to generate this movement, but for high precision and good stability, pressure-driven flow controllers can be of great interest. Hydraulic actuator systems require the flow of a liquid to initiate the movement while pneumatic actuator systems require the flow of compressed air to achieve precise control of the movement. In both cases, changing the pressure applied to the system generates a movement of precise amplitude and speed.  When finely tuned, microactuators can be used for medical procedures or to place spacecraft components, among other applications.

By controlling the pressure of either liquid or gas, the OB1 MK4 allows for precise control of an actuator system with high reliability and efficiency. Whether you work with stable or custom pressure profiles, with positive and/or vacuum pressure, the OB1 MK4 flow controller is the ideal instrument for manipulating your microactuators. Contact our team of experts to find out the best configuration for your setup.

Customizable & upgradable solution for more complex MEMS

The OB1 MK4 flow controller is a versatile instrument that can be customized to meet your specific experimental requirements. By choosing the pressure range of your flow controller, the range of motion can be adjusted accordingly.  Additionally, up to four individual lines can be set on a single flow controller, allowing the control of multiple actuators. Alternatively, three channels can be used to generate more complex movement of a single actuator, providing full control in the x,y, and z directions. This dramatically increases the range of achievable motions and expands the scope of potential applications. 

Our team of experts is available to help you determine the best configuration and number of pressure outlets required for manipulating your actuator. 

Set a pressure feedback loop to obtain the highest stability performances

Accurate and precise movements of microactuators require fine control of the pressure applied. To eliminate the potential pressure drop that could occur before the microactuator and to reach the best stability performances, the flow controller OB1 MK4 can be connected to a pressure sensor (MPS). By collecting data and using a feedback loop, the flow controller adjusts the pressure to meet the targeted pressure set point.

With our user-friendly software, you can easily control the pressure profile applied to the microactuators while the system self-adapts to meet the target pressure value. For more advanced users or integration with other instruments, the SDK libraries enable you to control the OB1 MK4 using your own code. 

Our advanced flow control solutions allow for precise motion control of microactuators using either a pressurized fluid or compressed gas. Contact our team of experts to help you determine the optimal configuration.

Illustration:

Antoine Barbot et al., Liquid seal for compact micropiston actuation at the capillary tip.Sci. Adv.6, eaba5660(2020).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.aba5660