A Compact Power Package: Q-545 Linear Positioning Stage for Precise Positioning

Physik Instrumente (PI): The Q-545 stage series from PI miCos combines high force, a compact design and precise positioning for 13 mm and 26 mm travel ranges. The linear positioning stages’ drive principle is based on the compact, piezoelectric inertia drives.

Just 45 mm wide, the Q-545 linear stages combine high forces, high velocity and high positioning accuracy that cannot be achieved using conventional drive principles, such as DC or stepper motors in a similar form factor.

The holding force and the maximum feed force are both 8 N, the maximum velocity is 10 mm/s. Since the piezomotor is self-locking at rest, it requires no current and generates no heat.

The compact installation space in the Q-545 contains precision components such as crossed roller guides with forced cage control which allow a high travel accuracy of ±50 µrad with a 13 mm travel range.

For closed-loop operation, the linear stage is equipped with an optical linear encoder that achieves a resolution of 1 nm. Like the motor, the linear scale is arranged centrally between the guides. This facilitates parallax-free position measurements. Combined with the piezoelectric inertia drive, minimal incremental motion of just a few nanometers can be achieved reliably and repeatedly.

The Q-545 series is also available as a vacuum-compatible version for up to 10^-9 hPa.

Motion Control

Position control of the Q-545 series is designed for rapid point-to-point motion and is handled by the E-871 motion controller. The control is digitally addressed over a USB or RS-232 interface and offers numerous parameters for the optional optimization of the settling behavior. Due to the controller’s networking capability, up to 16 axes can be controlled simultaneously via a single computer interface. The PIMikroMove software that comes with the controller allows quick start-up and system configuration. Integration into existing environments is possible via LabVIEW drivers and dynamic libraries.

The E-870 motion controller is available for open-loop operation, and its E‑870 drive electronics is also especially tuned to the requirements of the inertia drives. One amplifier can serially control a unit with up to four channels, which keeps investment costs low as an added benefit.

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 sites in Germany and ten sales and service offices abroad, the PI Group is represented internationally.