Patent ID: 7398715

Claim:
A method for using a virtual center Y actuator to machine a work piece, comprising: providing a work piece having a surface to be machined; providing a virtual center Y actuator, the actuator comprising: a main body having a back side, a front side, and a mounting block on the front side; a flexible unit on the front side of the main body, wherein the flexible unit has a plurality of sides connected via flex points; a piezoelectric stack secured and preloaded on the mounting block, and attached to the flexible unit, such that the piezoelectric stack extends substantially parallel to the front side of the main body; a tool tip carrier attached to the flexible unit and having a surface for mounting a tool tip; and a tool tip mounted on the surface of the tool tip carrier, wherein the piezoelectric stack moves the flexible unit via the flex points in order to cause a rotation of the tool tip carrier about a y-direction axis substantially parallel to the surface of the work piece to be machined; and using the actuator to create structures in the surface of the work piece to be machined, wherein the structures are created by the tool tip as controlled by the actuator.