Lorentz force actuator and carbon fiber co-winding design, construction and characterization

Abstract

Carbon fiber composites are materials that present many benefits to engineering applications, ranging from aerospace to medicine. This thesis provides background on carbon fiber properties and manufacturing techniques, and outlines the methodology for manufacturing a co-wound carbon fiber and copper coil for use in linear Lorentz force actuators. A conventionally-wound, plastic-bobbin actuator coil and the new, co-wound coil were then tested to compare their electrical, thermal, and mechanical performance. In a needle-free injection application, the cowound coil demonstrated improved performance over the conventional coil configuration. The carbon fiber coil is lighter by 3.75 ± 0.155 grams, increases the transient heat transfer by 15.7 %, is 2.18 ± 0.13 times stiffer, and can survive a higher compressive force than the conventional plastic bobbin.