With the piezoelectric drives from Piezo Motor Company (PMC), MEV Elektronik Service GmbH has expanded its motion control portfolio with particularly compact solutions for precise and dynamic positioning applications. The linear and rotary motors combine high resolution and short response times with low weight, low power consumption and inherent self-locking.
Unlike conventional electromagnetic motors, PMC drives generate motion using a piezoceramic resonator. Electrical excitation produces combined longitudinal and bending vibrations in the ultrasonic range. This creates an elliptical movement at the contact point, which is directly converted into linear or rotary motion. No gearboxes or lead screws are required.
One of the key advantages of the technology is its extremely fast response. Initial movement typically occurs within around 30 µs. At the same time, extremely small individual steps can be achieved. The compact LRMO linear motor offers a minimum step size of less than 40 nm. It reaches speeds of more than 150 mm/s with a push and pull force of at least 0,2 N.
Its rotary counterpart, the ROMO, achieves speeds of more than 600 rpm at a torque of more than 4 mNm. The minimum angular step size is approximately 30 µrad. This makes the motors suitable for both fast adjustment movements and extremely fine positioning tasks.
Another advantage becomes particularly apparent in applications with long standstill periods: the piezo drives require no power to maintain their position. Their mechanical self-locking characteristic continues to provide holding force or holding torque. This reduces power losses and can be particularly beneficial in compact, mobile or thermally sensitive systems.
Low weight is another important advantage for many applications. Depending on the requirements, the small LRMO and ROMO drives are available in different mechanical versions. Plastic-housing variants are optimized for minimum weight, while metal versions provide a particularly robust mechanical design. This allows the drive to be tailored to the specific requirements of the application.
In addition to the particularly compact ROMO and LRMO series, the PMC portfolio includes higher-performance variants. The LRMO-LG linear drives provide forces of up to 4 N, while the ROMO-LG rotary motors deliver torques of more than 30 mNm. The LRMO-150 provides a linear axis with up to 8 N of thrust and a travel range of 150 mm.
For multi-axis positioning tasks, PMC also offers complete motion systems. The LRMO-XYZ combines three compact linear drives to form an XYZ positioning system, while the ROMO-3AX enables precise movement across multiple rotary axes. These systems provide space-saving solutions for applications in optics and photonics, measurement technology, microscopy, medical technology, semiconductor equipment and robotics.
Depending on the version, the motors are available either without an encoder or with a factory-integrated position sensor. For closed-loop applications, PMC offers matching driver electronics. The driver boards support interfaces including UART and I²C and are preconfigured for the respective motor type.
For encoder-based systems, a Python API is also available, enabling position and speed control as well as straightforward implementation of custom motion sequences. The solution spectrum therefore ranges from simple open-loop control to a fully closed-loop positioning system.
The absence of conventional copper windings, permanent magnets and ferromagnetic laminations also makes the piezo drives attractive for applications in which weight, installation space or electromagnetic influences play a particularly important role.
“The PMC piezo motors bridge the gap between conventional precision servo drives and high-priced traditional piezo solutions. They offer very high positioning accuracy, short response times and compact dimensions, while remaining economically attractive and comparatively easy to integrate,” explains Guido Gandolfo, Product Line Manager Motion Control at MEV.
The products of Piezo Motor Company are available in Central Europe through MEV Elektronik. MEV supports developers in selecting suitable motors, driver electronics and evaluation kits, as well as in integrating the drive solution into the respective application.
MEV Elektronik Service GmbH will present PMC’s piezo drives at SPS 2026 in Nuremberg from November 24 to 26. Visitors will be able to learn more about the various linear and rotary motors and their use in compact, high-precision positioning systems. Experts from the manufacturer will also be on site.
Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, USA, Piezo Motor Company LLC (PMC) develops and manufactures compact piezoelectric linear and rotary motors for high-precision positioning applications. Its products are based on a newly developed and patented piezo technology that combines high precision and dynamics with compact dimensions, low weight and low power consumption.
The portfolio includes individual linear and rotary drives as well as multi-axis positioning systems and matching driver electronics. Applications include medical technology, optics and photonics, robotics, measurement technology, and aerospace.
Guido Gandolfo
Product Line Manager
Motion Control
+49 5424 2340-57
ggandolfo@mev-elektronik.com
