Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG

The new linear stages in the L-406 series from PI (Physik Instrumente) offer very good performance data on compact installation space: Despite the narrow width of only 65 mm, travel accuracies up to only 0.5 µm are possible over a travel range of 25 mm. PI is able to supply inexpensive solutions in conjunction with PI motor controllers at very short notice.

PI Ceramic is expanding its portfolio of round multilayer piezo actuators. They are now available without inner hole in lengths of 16 mm, 36 mm or 77 mm and provide travel ranges from 14 µm to 70 µm. The diameter is 16 mm.

PI (Physik Instrumente) introduces a new compact linear stage – the L-509. Providing high precision linear motion with minimized runout, this positioner delivers performance and reliability at minimized cost. It has applications in research and industrial applications, including beamline systems, microscopy, semiconductor manufacturing, and photonics instrumentation.

PI has released a new, high-performance 3 and 4-channel digital piezo controller that integrates with a wide range of existing piezo-based nanpositioning systems and piezo actuators.

PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P. introduces a new family of high dynamic linear stages to its PIMag series – the V-52x. Equipped with a linear encoder for direct position measurement and choice of cable exit direction, these stages are ideal for industry and research scanning applications, such as biotechnology, laser beam control, optics scanning, lens testing, and fiber optics.

Nanopositioning industry leader PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P. will be showcasing the newly released A-311 PIglide IS Series compact, planar XY air bearing stage at SPIE Photonics West– the world’s largest conference on photonics related technologies. The stage is designed to deliver extremely precise and vibration-free motion, making it ideal for metrology, wafer inspection, laser marking, and other precision motion applications.

PI (Physik Instrumente) introduces a miniature hexapod, designed for dynamic error correction in all three linear and rotation axes. The P-915KWEF joins PI‘s hexapod portfolio of over 100 products from palm-sized units to high-load systems capable of positioning several tons with sub-micron precision.

PI Ceramic now manufactures two new ring chips in multilayer technology with 12 mm outer diameter, 6 mm inner diameter, and 16 mm outer diameter, 8 mm inner diameter, as well as an overall height of 2.5 mm. The travel range is 2 µm at a control voltage of 100 V. The variant with an outer diameter of 12 mm has a blocking force of more than 2500 N and the variant with 16 mm has a blocking force of more than 4400 N. A round PICMA® Chip with 16 mm outer diameter but without inner hole is a new addition to the product range. The travel range of this chip actuator is 2.3 µm at a control voltage of 100 V and it achieves a blocking force of more than 6000 N.

PI (Physik Instrumente) is proud to announce the expansion of its worldwide offices to Benelux. ALT, a long-time distributor for PI with a strong presence in the highly dense marketplace of high tech industry, has joined the PI group. PI now operates direct offices or production facilities in 12 countries around the world.

Physik Instrumente (PI) presents the L-511 linear stage series featuring minimum incremental motion as small as 0.02µm. With travel ranges to 155mm (6 inches), this 2-phase micro stepper motor platform is ideal for precision positioning demanded by science and industry, especially with high duty application cycles. Vacuum compatible versions are available.

Physik Instrumente recently introduced the P-080 tubular piezo stack, the newest member of the high reliability PICMA family of piezo actuators. Piezo actuators are based on solid-state motion effects and are used in applications that require any or all of the following attributes: high speed, high force, and virtually unlimited resolution.

In a demonstration setup, Physik Instrumente shows how fast and precise XYZ stages are able to achieve parallel fiber alignment on the input and output side.

PI miCos presents the new L-511 precision linear stage series. The stages achieve unidirectional repeatability up to 0.1 µm and minimum incremental motion of up to 0.02 µm.

Automated industrial production of industrial goods in the highest quality would not be conceivable without ultrasonic sensors. They are indispensable in automation and among other things, are used for measuring distance and filling levels, for attendance monitoring or level adjustment. They check the gap between objects and therefore supply state variables for control. Therefore, the transducers are always the most important components in an ultrasonic sensor. As transmitters, they convert electrical signals into ultrasound and as receivers; they convert the very low pressure fluctuations of ultrasound in the air to electrical signals. Piezo ceramic disks, which act as the "heart" of the transducer, therefore play a key role.

Nanopositioning specialist PI recently released the new A-311 PIglide IS Series compact, planar air bearing stage, designed to deliver extremely precise and vibration-free motion. Planar scanning stages are ideal for wafer inspection, laser marking, optical metrology and other precision motion applications.

  PI has introduced the PIHera Z flexure-guided piezo nanopositioning stages, offering record travel ranges of 50 to 250µm. Flexure guided piezo positioning stages provide vibrationless motion with virtually unlimited resolution and fast response.

Magnetic direct drives have advantages over classical motorised, spindle-based solutions, particularly in terms of wear and dynamics. Since direct drives largely dispense with mechanical components in the drivetrain, there is less friction/play, and therefore more precision. In addition, their features include relatively large travel ranges, high velocities, longer lifetimes, lower costs and increased energy efficiency.

Physik Instrumente (PI) miCos has expanded its range of rotation stages in the Q-Motion product line. The Q-632 has a width of only 32mm, a height of 10mm and is suitable for applications constrained by limited space. The application spectrum ranges from microscopy, micromanipulation, biotechnology and medical technology up to automation.

  Physik Instrumente has released a new member of the PIMag family of precision positioning stages with magnetic direct drives. The compact and ultra-precise V-551 motorised linear translation stage debuted at Laser World of Photonics, held in Munich, Germany last month.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) permits surface measurements with highest resolution, even down to atomic levels. It enters dimensions that light microscopes can no longer resolve. This is a noncontact procedure. Forces measured between a very fine measuring tip and the object surface give information about the topography, chemical surface condition, defects, etc. This method is used both in research and in production. Typical areas of application include life science technologies, materials research and semiconductor inspection. Precision is required for positioning measuring tip and sample because only on that way a high spatial resolution is achieved. Piezo-based positioning systems are very good for this scanning method because they not only work with sub-nanometer resolution but also have high dynamics.