Actuators provide precise positioning
A
PI (Physik Instrumente) product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Oct 26, 2007
The Nexact system combines virtually unlimited travel ranges with high stiffness and bandwidth in a very small package.
Many of today's tunable lasers rely on the performance of a micropositioning or nanopositioning actuator to position a diffraction grating with extreme precision and repeatability.
While the virtually unlimited resolution and extremely fast response of piezo stack actuators is very desirable in these applications, their limited travel (typically less than 100um) is a serious problem.
To overcome the limited range, DC-motorised micrometers and stepper-motor-driven leadscrew actuators have been employed by laser manufacturers in the past.
However, these systems cannot provide the ultra-smooth piezo-class motion required for wavelength sweeps.
Their precision is also affected by friction and backlash of the mechanical drive screw and their limited dynamic performance leaves laser designers wanting.
An ultra-compact linear drive based on the PiezoWalk principle has been developed by PI to overcome the limitations of conventional linear actuators.
The Nexact system combines virtually unlimited travel ranges with high stiffness and bandwidth in a very small package.
Furthermore, Nexact actuators provide piezo-class resolution (far below one nanometre) and millisecond response.
The special drive design works with an operating voltage of 40V.
In operation, piezoceramic bending elements act on the ceramic runner, which is connected to the moving part of the application.
The length of the runner determines the travel range.
Force capacity, resolution and velocity are determined by the piezo geometry and drive electronics and are scalable.
To move the runner over longer distances the stepping mode is used, whereas for smaller distances, the linear sweep mode offers up to 7 microns of high-dynamics positioning with resolutions far below one nanometre and bandwidth in the kHz range.
Because the principle is not based on sliding friction (as with ultrasonic or inertial motors) there is virtually no particulate generation.
The Nexact drive principle offers very high repeatability and can hold a stable position tonm even when powered down.
Another advantage is the autolocking feature with virtually no heat dissipation at rest, a great improvement over stepper motors, thus eliminating laser drift.
The ceramic actuators require no lubricants, so the Nexact drive principle is high-vacuum compatible, as well as being and nonmagnetic.
Because linear motion is generated in the first place, backlash, friction and wear as caused by conventional rotating tip actuators are not an issue.
A compact benchtop controller with high-level command interface and comprehensive software driver package and OEM PCB versions are available to drive the actuators.
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Contact PI (Physik Instrumente)
Tel +44 1234 756360
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