Piezo Motion Control specialist PI (Physik Instrumente) is introducing a number of new ultrasonic piezomotor-driven translation stages and servo controllers. The new products include the M-686 low profile piezomotor stage with a nested P-541 Z-Nanopositioning scanner, and the C-866 PILine controllers.
The low-profile M-686 open-frame XY piezomotor stages are mainly designed for automated-positioning applications in inspection and microscopy. For ultra-high resolution applications they can be combined with nanopositinng scaning stages; the low profile height of the M-686 (only 27mm) provides for a very compact system.
Compared to conventional motorized translation stages, the M-686 provides a lower profile and smaller footprint. The compact PILine piezoelectric linear motors and high resolution linear encoders make both the leadscrew/duct and flanged, bulky stepper motor employed in traditional stages obsolete. In addition, the piezo motors are self-locking at rest and hold the stage in a stable position.
For ultra-high resolution applications, a number of piezo-nanopositioning systems can be mounted in the XY motor stage. They are available as fast, XY scanners (for fluorescence microscopy), as Z-positioners (3D imaging), or with up to 6 Axes.
The M-686 stages can be operated in closed-loop with the new C-866 piezo motor controller. This highly specialized controller achieves very short settling times (millisecond range) and can handle speeds up to 400mm/s.
