Traditional precision actuators have the defects like: small stroke, low power output, slow response speed. The electrostrictive actuator requires high voltage to work with. Because of all these problems, its design becomes harder, and as a result, it certainly falls far behind the rapid progress in modem sciences and technology.

    Compared with the traditional precision actuators, the new rare earth magnetostrictive precision actuator is of great potential because of its superior performance as illustrated below:

¡ô Greatly increased range of magnetostriction(or stroke);
¡ô Fast response speed: £¼1¦Ìs;
¡ô High output force: £¾1700N for transducer element rod of Ø12¡Á100mm;
¡ô High compression strength: £¾700MPa;
¡ô Low load voltage: several to tens of volts;
¡ô High reliability: no fatigue or aging phenomenon;
¡ô Wide serviceability temperature: usually 0¡«70¡æ, or adjustable according to customer's request(between -100¡«200¡æ).

    Market Analysis
    The new rare earth magnetostrictive precision actuator can be applied to many fields, such as precision valve, precision flow control, precision machine tool, electric jacking apparatus, precision instruments and meters, industrial robot, various kinds of derrick and movable arms, etching of large-scale integrated circuit, printer, textile machinery, cars, or the active noise control & vibration damping system. In the U.S., one application in automobile will consume more than 200 tons of the giant magnetostrictive material eveuy year(under the market price of about £¤60,000/Kg). Taken actuator as a device, the value will be even higher. China is abundant in rare earth resources, therefore, the cost is lower than that in the international market. It's believed that along with the increased demand, the price will go down rapidly. In terms of market potential, the future of our rare earth giant magnetostrictive material actuating is considerably prosperous.