positioning-equipment-whitepapers

1. Laser Seam Welding Of Electronic Packages Using Galvo Scanners 7/18/2022

   One of the methods used in laser seam welding is to move the workpiece to be welded under a laser galvo scanner head. The galvo scanner provides numerous additional control features, for example, expanding the laser source’s effective fine spot size to the seam width, laying a complex welding pattern over the motion path to create high-quality welds, increasing throughput, and taking advantage of higher power laser sources.

2. Fast Steering Mirrors (FSM) - Design, Performance, And Tuning Of Piezo-Based Mechanisms 6/7/2022

   In free space optical communication (FSO), large amounts of data are “beamed” between two points – on earth, on aircraft or between satellites in space. Fast steering mirrors (FSM) are one means to compensate for disturbances that could keep the laser beam from hitting its target receiver precisely. 

3. Multi-Axis Stages: Why Custom Aligned, Tuned, Error-Corrected XYZ Assemblies Are Better 4/18/2022

   Multi-axis precision motion at the micron or sub-micron level is required in many industrial automation processes as well as in test and metrology applications. Users of such motion systems often ask: Should I just get the individual components and bolt them together myself, or rather specify a complete XYZ system, mounted, aligned, and tested by a specialist? The answer depends on expectations, performance requirements, and budget.

4. Piezoelectric Positioning Equipment For Nanoscale Microscopy & Imaging 4/18/2022

   The compound microscope has quickly fallen behind alternative tools capable of performing high-precision materials characterization or insights into molecular activities on the nanoscale. PI offers a range of positioning equipment suitable for sub-nanometer resolution microscopy and interferometry. 

5. How To Connect A Safety Light Barrier To A Hexapod System 11/19/2021

   This white paper from PI explains when it is useful and necessary to use a safety device, how a safety light barrier (or light curtain) works, how the risk assessment for hexapods is carried out, and how the safety device can quickly be integrated in the controller environment.

6. What Is The Difference Between Parallel Positioners And Stacked Serial Kinematics? 9/27/2021

   When faced with a multi-axis motion application, many users stack motion stages, and in fact that is a fine approach for assemblies of just a few axes. But as applications become more complex, so do the equivalent stacks-of-stages, and very real and practical considerations begin to come into play.

7. Hexapod FAQs 9/24/2021

   Hexapods provide motion in all 6 Degrees of Freedom, X,Y,Z, Pitch, Roll, Yaw.  6-DoF motion platforms and positioning systems are often referred to as Stewart Platforms.

8. Piezo Controllers/Mechanisms: How To Select The Right Piezo Controller/Driver 8/23/2021

   When selecting a motion controller / driver for a piezo nanopositioning system, a number of questions need to be answered first.  Here’s a check list and an example that can help make the best choice. 

9. Advances In Piezo Nanopositioning Controllers – Digital Vs. Analog 8/23/2021

   Digital piezo nanopositioning controllers have a reputation for being expensive and only cost efficient in high-end applications. A recent new design approach has changed this situation, making advanced digital control features affordable for main stream piezo motion applications.

10. Next Generation Piezo Objective Scanners 8/23/2021

    Piezo lens focusing stages improve with longer travel ranges to 800µm, providing faster step/settle and higher resolution.