When David Henderson founded New Scale Technologies in 2002, he saw a need for embedded motion control for smaller consumer products, automated biomedical instruments, and nanotechnology research. The SQUIGGLE® motor was patented in 2003 (US 6,940,209) and the first commercial product shipped in 2004. This new actuator set the bar as the world’s smallest linear motor to drive microstages and focus modules. The ultrasonic piezoelectric SQUIGGLE® motors and UTAF Motors power our M3 smart module platform.
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We created many SQUIGGLE® prototypes in the early days seeking to optimize size, cost, power and voltage. Piezo tubes worked great but are too expensive and needed 100’s of volts to operate. We finally settled on a square metal tube with flat multi-layer piezo plates as the best motor core design. This composite construction can be optimized for size and cost and operates using 3.3 volt signals from a single IC. These innovations are at the core of our embedded micro motion modules (M3).
Since its introduction, the SQUIGGLE® platform has been granted more than ten patents, licensed by ALPS Alpine, Tamron and TKD-EPC, and was recognized with:
- EE Times ACE award, 2007
- Design News Golden Mousetrap award
- Small Times Best of Small Technology award
Recognized as a breakthrough by the industry and quickly embraced by customers, SQUIGGLE® met with acclaim, yet New Scale Technologies recognized the need for a complete solution. Many researchers looking to build their own motion control systems around the motor struggled to integrate it successfully, given the broad range of expertise required: mechanical, electrical, and software engineering to capture the true promise of precise micro motion control. New Scale had built such a team of experts.
Dave Henderson states, “Motors must be carefully integrated into the motion system, and that’s not trivial. It requires a deep and intimate understanding of precision mechanisms, motors, sensors, drive electronics, microprocessors, and closed-loop embedded firmware. The SQUIGGLE was a true breakthrough, which has allowed us to provide easy-to-integrate complete embedded motion modules for our customers, easing their engineering burden.”
The SQUIGGLE® foundational technology formed the platform for our lineup of embedded motion control. New Scale continued to innovate on the core SQUIGGLE® technology, introducing a reduced voltage motor, and expanding capabilities to include rotary motion. Since these early days, New Scale has invested tens of millions in complete motion control, now providing complete mechatronic systems.
Over twenty years ago, it all started with the SQUIGGLE®. Today, New Scale Technologies’ embedded controllers advance our customers success, enabling precise motion control at optimal size, weight, and power (SWaP) in industries as far-reaching as space exploration, industrial automation, AR/VR and medical devices.
