New H-820 Hexapod Positions Loads of up to 20 kg in Six Axes

Convincing by its Price and Performance:

A linear repeatability of 20 µm, and 200 µrad in the tip/tilt or rotational axes – these are important features of the new H-820 Hexapod from PI (Physik Instrumente).

The H-820 Hexapod is not as precise as the well-proven high-end six axes systems from PI. But with the performance characteristics of all its components perfectly tuned and selected for cost-efficiency, the new Hexapod can be offered at a favorable price.

The H-820 also convinces by its performance: It provides travel ranges of up to 100 mm in X and Y direction and 50 mm in the Z axis as well as rotational angles up to 60°. Thanks to the specially developed brushless torque motors, a load capacity of 20 kg and velocities of up to 20 mm/s can be achieved.

The H-820 system also includes a powerful digital controller commanded via Ethernet. All target positions are conveniently given in Cartesian coordinates. Its price and performance make the H-820 particularly appealing for applications in industrial automation and manufacturing, or for research, e.g. in biotechnology.

Why Parallel Kinematics?

The Hexapod is driven by six high-resolution actuators, all connected directly to the same moving platform. This parallel-kinematic structure combines high system stiffness with a large clear aperture.

Because of the low mass of the moving platform, positioning operations can be performed with far lower settling times than with stacked multi-axis systems. In those systems, runout and guiding errors, that have an impact on the dynamic properties of the individual axes, as well as friction and inertia of moving cables, all accumulate to limit the system's accuracy and repeatability – problems which do not affect parallel-kinematic systems like the Hexapod.

PI in Brief
Well-known for the high quality of its products, PI (Physik Instrumente) has been one of the leading players in the global market for precision positioning technology for many years. PI has been developing and manufacturing standard and OEM products with piezo or motor drives for 40 years now. With four German factories and ten subsidiaries and sales offices abroad, the PI Group is represented internationally.