Our design drastically minimizes part count. Why We Avoid Magnets and Oil Lubrication

At Spike Dynamics we believe that how something moves is just as important as what it moves. Our actuators are not built on convention. They are built on a fundamental question: what is truly necessary, and what can be removed to make the system better?

From the start, we made a clear decision to avoid magnets and oil complexity in our actuator designs. These components are standard in traditional systems, but they introduce complexity, constraints, and long-term limitations. Our commitment to simplicity, reliability, and mechanical clarity led us to take another path.

Magnets Create Hidden Problems

Magnets may be useful for generating force, but they come with hidden costs. They can interfere with sensitive equipment, attract unwanted particles, and restrict where actuators can be used. In cleanrooms, optical labs, or medical imaging devices, stray magnetic fields can be a serious problem.

By removing magnets entirely, our actuators can operate safely in places where electromagnetic interference must be avoided. This includes high-precision instruments, sterile environments, and research systems that require predictable, low-noise performance.

Oil Demands Maintenance

Oil is commonly used to reduce friction and wear in mechanical systems. But it leaks. It evaporates. It attracts dust. And it eventually breaks down, requiring cleaning or replacement. In sealed environments or systems that must run for years without interruption, oil becomes a liability.

Our actuators avoid this entirely. Instead of sliding parts and lubrication, we use solid-state materials and elastic structures that deform and recover naturally. This results in almost silent, smooth motion that never needs servicing. Ideal for vacuum chambers, surgical devices, and long-life embedded systems.

Complexity

Traditional motors generate rotational motion, which must be converted to linear displacement using gears, belts, or mechanical linkages. This adds noise, weight, energy loss, and mechanical complexity. It also introduces wear points and increases power consumption.

Our design drastically minimizes part count. For example, a regular motor contains more than 100 parts. Our design - less than 10.

We use piezoelectric stacks that generate extremely small but precise expansions when voltage is applied. Through smart internal geometry, we amplify that motion into usable linear movement with high force and minimal space. No gears. No bearings. No noise.

What We Build Instead

Spike actuators are designed to be compact, clean, and quiet. They work in environments where traditional systems fail. From vacuum and deep-sea tools to optical setups and lab automation platforms, they deliver reliable motion without compromising system integrity.

Each product we offer is based on this principle. Spike AA1 delivers amplified force in a flat package. Spike AA2 brings higher integration and mechanical simplicity. Spiketon M1 enables lightweight, embedded linear motion for track-based systems and precision assemblies.

Why These Choices Matter

Removing magnets improves safety. Eliminating oil reduces maintenance. Replacing motors simplifies design and saves space. These choices are not just about reducing parts. They enable performance in environments that demand silence, cleanliness, and long-term reliability.

Engineers who adopt our actuators can rethink how they build. Fewer constraints lead to cleaner systems, faster development, and longer operational life. Our collaborators are already applying this philosophy in surgical robotics, compact research tools, and space-ready instruments.

Openness Is Part of the Design

We believe that this approach should be shared. All Spike actuators are released under an open hardware license. Everything is available on GitHub, including CAD files, documentation, and firmware templates.

This is not just about transparency. It is about empowering others to improve, remix, and scale what we have created. The same design values that led us to eliminate magnets, oil, and motors also led us to open our work to the world.

If you are building something that moves and you want it to move better, we invite you to explore our open hardware repositories on GitHub: github.com/SpikeDynamics