Static and dynamic characterization of a magnetoelectric cantilever cutting tool

A magnetoelectric self-sensing cantilever actuator is under investigation for use as a remotely driven self-sensing actuator. The cantilever is fabricated from Galfenol and Lead Zirconate Titanate strips as a laminate composite. An applied magnetic field generates strain in the magnetostrictive layer, thereby creating a bending moment in the composite and generating an electrical signal in the piezoelectric layer. A force-deflection model and equation of motion for the self-sensing magnetoelectric material in cantilever configuration is developed in this paper. An equivalent mass and stiffness matrix derived for the cantilever in terms of generalized coordinates is used to predict the bending behavior of the cantilever in its linear range of operation. In addition, the electrical boundary condition of the piezoelectric layer is varied to determine its influence on the actuation properties of the cantilever tool. Cantilever specimens measuring 40mm x 20mm and 20mm x 10mm are excited using a remote magnetic field of up to 2.8x104 A/m and free tip displacements of 200μm and 60 μm are observed, respectively. The model predicts the slope of the magnetic field/tip displacement curve with an error of 7% and 33%, respectively. The sensing current generated by the smaller specimen is 5x10-7 A.