Micro-positioned flatbed

Abstract

Disclosed is a micro-positioning flatbed comprising a bed; a first driving unit and a second driving unit of resilient construction; a piezo-electric element firmly coupling the first and the second driving units; and piezo-electric elements firmly received within the first and the second driving units, wherein the bed is formed with corresponding, extending guides, the first and the second driving units include opposing sides having configurations corresponding to configurations of the guides, and the first and the second driving units are aligned within the guides of the bed, whereby the piezo-electric elements expand or contract while being subjected to voltages to cause lateral expansion or contraction of the first and the second driving units in response to expansion or construction of the piezo-electric elements firmly received within the first and the second driving units, such that the piezo-electric elements firmly coupled to the first and the second driving units activate the first and the second driving units urge against or release from the guides, so as to produce movement of a minute distance forward or rearward due to expansion or contraction of the piezo-electric elements while being subjected to voltages. This invention may be provided with guides along different axial directions in the bed for receiving multiple sets of the first and second driving units thereby attaining an positioning flatbed of multiple axes for retaining a workpiece positioning flatbed and a tool positioning flatbed so as to conduct machining operations that require micro-positioning. In addition, this invention discloses a driving unit having a special resilient construction that enhances expansion of the driving unit in response of expansion of the piezo-electric element so as to attain precise positioning and movement.