Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG

The new PI nano piezo-Z stages are optimized for very fast step and settle and easy integration into high-resolution microscope applications. They feature a very low profile a large aperture, and travel ranges of up to 200 µm with sub-nanometer closed-loop resolution–ideal for leading-edge microscopy and imaging applications. The piezo stages are designed for inverted microscopes from the four major manufacturers: Leica, Nikon, Olympus and Zeiss. The low profile design of 20 mm (0.8”) facilitates the integration. The large aperture accommodates microscopy accessories such as slide holders, Petri dish holders, etc.

The new N-725 PIFOC scanner for microscope objectives with NEXACT piezo stepping drives provides travel ranges of up to one millimeter along the optical axis. At the same time the technology allows rapid positioning: The N-725 focusing system achieves transient times of around 20 milliseconds for steps of 200 nanometers. It has an extremely compact design and is no larger than conventional, piezo-based PIFOC objective stages.

In contrast to conventional analog piezo controllers, the E-609 single- channel piezo controller from Physik Instrumente (PI) has a digital controller which can be optimized using software and USB service interface. Additional linearization methods improve the accuracy of the piezo system in comparison to completely analog devices by a factor of 10 from around 0.2% to 0.02%.

Over the last four decades, the Karlsruhe-based company has become the leading manufacturer of nanopositioning technology. PI is a private company with healthy growth, more than 500 employees world-wide and a flexible, vertically integrated organization which enables PI to fulfill almost any request in the field of innovative precision positioning technology. All key technologies are developed in-house. This means that every phase from the design right down to the shipment can be controlled:

Robust piezo actuators and sensitive electronics replace batteries.

In medical engineering it is often necessary to ensure there is an undisturbed flow with no air or gas pockets. This is achieved with the aid of ultrasonic technology in so-called bubble or air-bubble detectors (ABD).

Piezo Technology and Motion Control specialist Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG, Karlsruhe, Germany has strengthened its European sales organization with new offices and people.

The compact NEXACT piezo stepping drives from Physik Instrumente (PI) push forward into a new performance class for linear drives: with high forces of 10 N, velocities of more than 10 mm/s, and at resolutions of a few nanometers they replace the typical stepper or DC servomotors in applications that depend on the combination of force and resolution on large travel ranges. The E-862 driver electronics is the ideal control for the NEXACT drives when operated in open-loop or when used with an external positioning and velocity control. By using an analog input signal, the driver can be connected with external motion controllers or it can be controlled directly by using a joystick.

PI (Physik Instrumente) has published a digital flash catalog on Piezo Technology and Nanopositioning Products

Piezoceramic stepping drives which combine large travel ranges with resolutions of better than 1 nm (0.001 µm) open up many application areas in nanopositioning. This includes semiconductor manufacturing, testing equipment and wafer inspection as well as nanolithography or nanometrology and active vibration control, e.g. in mechanical engineering. Because precision drives are very reliable, they are used directly there where the motion is required and also where the access is difficult. The facts such as that they are additionally not affected by even strong magnetic fields and safely hold loads also, when powered down, make them interesting for further applications, e.g. in space.

PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P. introduces the new N-216 NEXLINE high-load piezo linear motors. These ultra-precision nanopositioning actuators provide travel ranges to 20 mm and push / pull forces to 600 N (130 lb). The operating principle is based on coordinated motion of a number of highly preloaded linear and shear piezo elements acting on a ceramic runner.

PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P. introduces a new ultra-low profile (0.6”), direct-driven, high-speed rotary stage based on its proprietary PILine® piezomotor drive technology at this year’s SPIE Photonics West conference

The new PI nano™ piezo-Z stages are optimized for very fast step and settle and easy integration into high-resolution microscope applications. They feature a very low profile a large aperture, and travel ranges of up to 200 µm with sub-nanometer closed-loop resolution–ideal for leading-edge microscopy and imaging applications. The piezo stages are designed for inverted microscopes from the four major manufacturers: Leica, Nikon, Olympus and Zeiss. The low profile design of 20 mm (0.8”) facilitates the integration. The large aperture accommodates microscopy accessories such as slide holders, Petri dish holders, etc.

The P-725.xDD microscope objective positioners were designed for extremely fast motion over relatively short travel ranges up to 20 µm. Their ultra-stiff direct piezo drive (1.2 kHz resonant frequency) enables the highest scanning rates and response times of only 5 msecs - essential for time-critical tasks.

PI is switching to a new generation of 24-bit resolution interfaces for its nanopositioning stage controllers. The new interfaces will allow better than 100 picometers command resolution even on the latest generation long travel piezo nanopositioning stages (1 mm and up) such as the PIHera™ series closed-loop flexure stages.

PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P. has added two new multi-axis stages for super-resolution microscopy applications, providing highly accurate motion with sub-nanometer resolution over travel ranges of 200 µm in XY and XYZ.