21 Sep 2007 Auburn, MA, - PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P., offers a new type of high-force, sub-nanometer resolution linear actuator, that could take large segmented-mirror telescopes to the next level of precision. Auburn, MA, - March 2006 - PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P., a leading manufacturer of nanopositioning and precision motion-control equipment for optics, semiconductor and life science applications offers a new type of high-force, sub-nanometer resolution linear actuator, that could take large segmented-mirror telescopes to the next level of precision.
PI now also offers a new generation of ultra-high-performance linear actuators, dubbed NEXLINE®. They are based on the patented PiezoWalk® drive principle that offers the unique combination of theoretically unlimited travel range with high mechanical stiffness and the atomic resolution of piezoelectric actuators.
The all-ceramic, high-stiffness NEXLINE® actuators provide pushing / holding forces to 600 N (130 lbs) and resolution better than 0.1 nanometer. Due to zero-drift auto-locking when at rest, they can maintain positions to nanometer level precision for a very long time, while dissipating no heat and consuming no electrical power at all. Due to the great stiffness of the piezoelectric materials, the actuators can also be run in a special high-bandwidth mode, e.g. for active vibration cancellation and dithering.
Standard actuators with up to 20 mm travel are readily available, but custom and OEM units with much longer travel are feasible. NEXLINE® nanopositioners work in high magnetic fields and in a vacuum.
These highly reliable drives won a Technology Innovation Showcase award at the SEMICON West 2005, and have proven themselves many times over in the semiconductor industry.
Features & Advantages:
- Very high resolution, <0.1 nanometer, high force generation to 600 N
- High stiffness (resonant frequencies of 100 s of Hz) allows the construction of very stiff structures and helps to suppress vibration
- Special high-speed operating mode for active vibration cancellation and dithering
- Autolocking: can hold a stable position to nanometer level in power-off mode
- Very rugged: NEXLINE® drives can survive shock loads of several g
- Flexibility: NEXLINE® piezo drives are available as OEM motors, packaged actuators and integrated into complex multi-axis positioning systems hexapods
More Information on the PiezoWalk Linear Actuators is available here
More Information on the DC Motor Linear Actuators is available here |
