positioning-equipment-whitepapers

  1. Frictionless Precision Motion Control Based On Air Bearing Stages - Key Element In Coordinate Measuring And Surface Metrology Applications 8/23/2017

    The performance of precision metrology equipment depends on highly accurate, repeatable, and controllable motion systems and position sensors. Air bearings have played a critical role in the development and construction of CMMs and other metrology tools. 

  2. Automotive Precision Assembly: Hexapod 6-Axis Parallel Machines Add High Precision To Conventional Robots 8/23/2017

    The need for advances robotics with high precision and alignment requirements continues to grow in the automotive industry. This white paper describes the major benefits that hexapod 6-axis parallel machines have for conventional robots in automotive precision assembly lines. 

  3. Engineered Precision Motion Design Benefits From Systems Approach 8/23/2017

    When controlling motion at the sub-micrometer or nanometer levels for alignment and handling applications, it is imperative to have high reliability, robustness, minimized latency, and high-speed synchronization with external devices to reach sub-micrometer path accuracy. The higher the dynamics and throughput targets of a multi-axis precision motion system, the more holistic the design approach must be in order to achieve success. A systems approach where the mechanics, control electronics, and software are designed by the same team provides a great amount of benefits for the user.

  4. Motion Control And Precision Positioning In Vacuum Environments 9/29/2016

    Vacuum applications, and technologies that can only be applied in vacuum or cryogenic environments have grown in importance within scientific research and industry applications. Optics technologies use vacuum environments to manufacture components such as fiber laser optics and sensitive detectors. Other applications that use vacuum environments include small epitaxy processes, semiconductor manufacturing, and X-ray or UV applications.

  5. PI Mini Imaging Drives For Endoscopy 7/13/2016

    With the aim to cause patients as little discomfort as possible, minimal invasive surgery (MIS) techniques use endoscopes integrated with a miniature drive to achieve variable focusing so that objects can be in sharp focus at all times. These endoscopes are used in larynx diagnostics or laparoscopy where optics and special instruments can then be introduced to the abdominal cavity through working trocars. Patients will then experience less post-operative pain and are able to be discharged earlier from the hospital. This application note describes the focus and zoom control functions within these miniature drives, and provides information on available PI piezo miniature drives for endoscopy applications.  

  6. Optimizing Performance Of Galvanometer-Based Laser Beam Steering 4/6/2016

    Closed-loop galvanometers, or galvos, offer a combination of speed, accuracy, low cost, and flexibility. To achieve optimal performance in any galvo application, one must understand the parameters for positioning speed and accuracy, plus proper design and selection of the galvo, mirror, and servo driver. 

  7. From Patterned Wafer To Packaged Device: Optical Alignment For Packaging and Test In SiP 2/26/2015

    As photonic and electronic devices began to converge, bandwidth, efficiency, and functionality improved significantly. On the flip side, testing and packaging these silicon photonic (SiP) devices has proven to be a challenge. Testing conventional microcircuits can be done through physical contact, conventional positioning control devices, and visual inspection. On the other hand, photonic devices require non-contact and nanoscale alignment between the hybrid device under test and a probe fiber or other element. And we haven’t even begun discussing the complications involved in packaging such devices.

  8. Achieving Double-Sided Fiber Optic Alignment with the H-206 Hexapod Positioning System 11/8/2013

    PI’s H-206 positioning system uses fast alignment algorithms, six-axis positioning, virtualized rotation and fast optical or analog metrology to achieve double-sided fiber optic alignment.

  9. Improved Automated Manufacturing of Opto-Mechanical Components 10/22/2013

    Hexapod systems can be used to provide precision movement and positioning in the manufacturing process of opto-mechanical components. Often times though, this type of manufacturing process calls for precise motion in all six degrees of freedom.

  10. Resolution Enhancement of Imaging Chips with Piezo Technology 3/15/2013

    Cameras and scanning systems used in applications involving fluorescence microscopy, white-light interferometry OCT, or aerial photography need to be high resolution. When resolution needs to be increased, there are only a few options