PI Releases Catalog

AUBURN, Mass., Nov. 10, 2010 — PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P., a manufacturer of piezo ceramic actuators and precision motion-control equipment for semiconductor, biomedical and nanotechnology applications, has released a new catalog on piezo mechanisms.

The 400-page catalog presents PI’s complete spectrum of piezomechanic components and motion systems, from simple, direct actuators to long-travel ceramic linear motors and complex multiaxis flexure-guided nanopositioning stages. A separate section lists the latest digital control electronics.

The catalog also includes a tutorial on piezo design for positioning applications.

The various types of piezo mechanisms available are outlined below. Each type is designed for a unique application category.

Direct Piezo Actuators: Z-Stacks, Shear (X, X-Y)

Highest force (to 10,000 lbf)
Fastest response: microseconds to milliseconds
Short travel ranges: 2-100 µm

Piezo Flexure Lever Actuators

Trioptics GmbH - Worldwide Benchmark 4-24 LB

Longer travel to 2 mm
Flexure guiding system for straight motion
Response <1 ms

Ultrasonic Linear Motors

For high-speed automation and microscopy
Long travel (tens to hundreds of millimeters)
Fast: to 500 mm/s
Low profile, self-locking

PiezoWalk Linear Motors

High force (4 to 170 lb)
Compact, self-locking
Long travel (tens of millimeters)

Piezo Flexure Positioning Stages

Multiaxis motion, highest precision class (subnanometer)
Applications in semiconductor technology, nanotechnology, AFM, superresolution microscopy, etc.

The catalog can be downloaded at: http://www.piezo.ws/pdf/Piezo_Mechanism_Cat10.pdf

For more information, visit: www.pi-usa.us

Published: November 2010

Glossary

actuator: Mechanical device intended for the translation (rotational and linear) using high precision control from electronically operated circuits. See linear actuator; rotary actuator.
component: 1. A constituent part. It may consist of two or more parts cemented together, or with near and approximately matching surfaces. 2. The projection of a vector on a certain coordinate axis or along a particular direction. 3. In a lens system, one or more elements treated as a unit. 4. An optical element within a system.
electronics: That branch of science involved in the study and utilization of the motion, emissions and behaviors of currents of electrical energy flowing through gases, vacuums, semiconductors and conductors, not to be confused with electrics, which deals primarily with the conduction of large currents of electricity through metals.
nano: An SI prefix meaning one billionth (10-9). Nano can also be used to indicate the study of atoms, molecules and other structures and particles on the nanometer scale. Nano-optics (also referred to as nanophotonics), for example, is the study of how light and light-matter interactions behave on the nanometer scale. See nanophotonics.
nanopositioning: Nanopositioning refers to the precise and controlled movement or manipulation of objects or components at the nanometer scale. This technology enables the positioning of objects with extremely high accuracy and resolution, typically in the range of nanometers or even sub-nanometer levels. Nanopositioning systems are employed in various scientific, industrial, and research applications where ultra-precise positioning is required. Key features and aspects of nanopositioning include: Small...
nanotechnology: The use of atoms, molecules and molecular-scale structures to enhance existing technology and develop new materials and devices. The goal of this technology is to manipulate atomic and molecular particles to create devices that are thousands of times smaller and faster than those of the current microtechnologies.
shear: Image distortion that occurs when the axes of the original image are not perpendicular in the resulting image, making the resulting image appear slanted. Shear can be caused by movement of the original image during scanning or misaligment of the X and Y scanners.
superresolution: Superresolution refers to the enhancement or improvement of the spatial resolution beyond the conventional limits imposed by the diffraction of light. In the context of imaging, it is a set of techniques and algorithms that aim to achieve higher resolution images than what is traditionally possible using standard imaging systems. In conventional optical microscopy, the resolution is limited by the diffraction of light, a phenomenon described by Ernst Abbe's diffraction limit. This limit sets a...
ultrasonic: Ultrasonic refers to sound waves with frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing, typically above 20,000 hertz (Hz). These waves are termed ultrasonic because they are beyond the range of frequencies that the human ear can perceive. Ultrasonic waves propagate similarly to audible sound waves but at a higher frequency, which means they have shorter wavelengths. Ultrasonic waves have various applications across different fields due to their unique properties, including: ...

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