Electrostatic clutch for power tool

A power tool comprising:

• a power tool housing;
• a motor received in the power tool housing and configured to be driven by a power source;
• an end effector configured to perform an operation on a workpiece;
• an electrostatic clutch assembly disposed in the power tool housing and between the motor and the end effector, the electrostatic clutch assembly comprising:
• a shaft;
• a first electrode and a second electrode axially arranged along an axial direction of the shaft, the first electrode and the second electrode being substantially parallel and adjacent to each other;
• a dielectric layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• a clutch housing containing the first electrode, the second electrode, and at least a portion of the shaft;
• wherein the first electrode is non-rotatably coupled to the clutch housing and is axially movable relative to the clutch housing;
• wherein the second electrode is non-rotatably coupled to the shaft and is axially movable relative to the shaft;
• and
• a control circuit disposed in the power tool housing and operatively cooperable with the electrostatic clutch assembly,
• wherein the control circuit causes a first voltage difference to be applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, generating a first attractive force between the first and second electrodes, causing the shaft and the clutch housing to be coupled to each other when a torque on one of the shaft or the clutch housing is less than or equal to a first threshold value, and allowing the one of the shaft or the clutch housing to rotationally slip relative to the other of the shaft or the clutch housing when the torque on the one of the shaft or the clutch housing exceeds the first threshold value,
• wherein the end effector is mounted to an output spindle of the power tool, and
• wherein the power tool includes:
• the motor, and
• an impact mechanism that is configured to apply intermittent rotational impacts to the output spindle.