Motion Characteristics of Self-Sensing Piezoelectric Actuator for Yarn Micro-Gripper

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Authors,

An extensive literature review was performed, the method was clearly and comprehensively described, the structural diagrams were presented, the results achieved and clearly listed. The only downside is that more could have been written about the applicability of this gripper, perhaps specifying the industry the authors are targeting, or whether it will only be used on weaving looms.

Best regards, reviewer

Author Response

Dear Reviewer:

Thank you for your comments concerning our manuscript. Your suggestion is valuable and very helpful for revising and improving our paper, as well as the important guiding significance to our researches. We have studied comments carefully and have made revised. Please see the attachment.

Your sincerely,

Yuan Sun

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The paper presents the novel design and functional parameters of the yarn gripper. The gripper has a bimorph structure with piezoelectric bending actuators.

The paper is well-written and organized and is easy to follow. The functional parameters of the gripper are analytically modeled using piezoelectric and elasticity theory. Functional characteristics are verified through experiments.

I have several suggestions for the authors:

1. English is grammatically correct but there are style mistakes. Proofreading by a foreign language lecturer is suggested.

2. Please, check the terminology: “Micro-gripper is one of the key actuators…” Micro-gripper is a device that is actuated by an actuator (pneumatic, electrostatic..), etc.

3. It is very good when a practical problem provides basis for a research. It would be beneficial to the paper to explain the functioning of a weft accumulator and the use of the yarn gripper, even including a picture.

4. To make the design more comprehensible, it would be good to add a schematic of the whole device – the bimorph structure can be seen in Fig 2. and Fig. 3. presents only one-half of the gripper. Parameters, such as displacement, etc. can be marked in the schematic.

5. In paragraph 3.3.2., please explain what is the resolution and its relationship with the stroke.

6. Is the device tested in working conditions on the real machine?

English is grammatically correct but there are style mistakes. Proofreading by a foreign language lecturer is suggested.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer:

Thank you for your comments concerning our manuscript. Your suggestions are valuable and very helpful for revising and improving our paper, as well as the important guiding significance to our researches. We have studied comments carefully and have made revised. Please see the attachment.

Your sincerely,

Yuan Sun

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The characteristics of the actuator is well clarified but the problems of low response frequency and poor consistency should be bit detailed in order to emphasize the problem statement of this work. 

Definition of the current source of equivalent mode in Fig. 4 should be clearly formulated beside of currents and/or current density along the actuator. 

Given the clear hysteresis behavior observed in the experimental results, it may be necessary to introduce nonlinear functions in the simulation model to accurately represent this phenomenon. While the simulation results currently appear linear, incorporating such nonlinear functions would enhance the fidelity of the model and bring it closer to real-world behavior.

Considering the results in Fig. 14 (a) and (c), it's clear that the relation between input (Vin) and output (Force) is not obviously zero order hold (increasing force when constant at higher |Vin|). This clearly effects with Vout when Vin around -100 [V]. Can authors discuss about this point a bit more?

N/A

Author Response

Dear Reviewer:

Thank you for your comments concerning our manuscript. Your suggestions is valuable and very helpful for revising and improving our paper, as well as the important guiding significance to our researches. We have studied comments carefully and have made revised. Please see the attachment.

Your sincerely,

Yuan Sun

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Authors already considered all comments from the reviewer.

N/A