PI (Physik Instrumente) presents the E-482, a new high-power amplifier providing 6 kW peak power with an energy saving power recovery design.

The E-482 is useful for a multitude of fast actuation and switching applications such as adaptive structures and mechanisms, precision tool servos, fatigue testing, quality control purposes or highly dynamic control of piezo driven valves in test stands.

The E-482 comes a 19-inch rack-mount chassis and can be upgraded to a full closed-loop system by means of the E-509 servo-control module. The piezo driver is designed for the operation of large, high-capacitance piezo actuators. The class D switching amplifier controls the piezo output voltage by modulating the pulse width of the control signal. When the piezo actuator is discharged, a patented energy recovery circuitry stores the returning energy in a capacitor and makes it reusable for the next charging cycle. Despite its very sink/source current of 6A (peak, 2A avg.) and a voltage swing of up to 1050V (unipolar and bipolar) this amplifier achieves very high efficiency, accounting to energy savings up to up to 80 percent compared with traditional piezo drivers. Another benefit is significantly reduced heat dissipation.

The PI group provides a portfolio of piezo motion control solutions for markets as diverse as semiconductor manufacturing, bio-technology, photonics, aerospace and medical engineering. PI has 4 decades of experience with the design and manufacture of precision positioning systems based on piezoceramic and electromagnetic drives. The company has been ISO 9001 certified since 1994 and provides innovative, high-quality solutions for OEM and research. PI is present worldwide with 10 subsidiaries, R&D / engineering on 3 continents and total staff of 750+.