Linear Positioning Stages

In N-603 linear positioning stages, Physik Instrumente has replaced a conventional piezo actuator with a high-resolution piezo stepping drive of the NEXACT series, which - theoretically - has an unlimited travel range. Frictionless flexure joints made of titanium guide the motion of the drive with a crosstalk of just a few micrometers. Strain gauge sensors with approx. 0.25 % linearity are used as position sensors; this guarantees a positioning accuracy of approx. 5 µm on the entire travel range. The result is a position-controlled linear actuator with micrometer precision, having a height of 7.4 mm and a travel range of 2 mm. Due to its guiding and sensor technology, the linear actuator can be used in strong magnetic fields or in vacuum. Its fields of use include, for example, sample manipulation in electron microscopy, adjustment of imaging elements or magnetic resonance tomography. For the simple and precise operation, the supplier developed a compact controller that controls the motion of the piezo stepping drives and the integrated strain gauge sensors.