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Components of a Nanopositioning System
Nanopositioning systems provide the opportunity to enable many advanced applications. Their use has spread from AFMs to optics and multiple new technologies. While selecting a system can be complex at times, there are three main components that work together to provide motion on the nanoscale. Each component will briefly be...
Piezoelectric Actuators Used in Flexure Stages
nPoint uses piezoelectric stack actuators to provide motion to its flexure stages. These stacks are often referred to as “piezos” and this is what puts the “piezo” in “piezo stage.” Actuators are stacked with multiple piezo tiles to provide larger displacement and hence the term “piezo stack”. The material used...
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Custom Programming for Nanopositioning Stages
nPoint uses digital control electronics in its nanopositioning systems. Electrical, mechanical, and software engineering are all done in-house. This flexibility allows for custom development to meet the requirements set forth by an external user. The following provides an example of custom software features programmed at nPoint directly for a customer...
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Trajectory Generation with Nanopositioning Systems
Trajectory Generation is the latest feature on nPoint’s nPControl software environment for the LC.400 Series Nanopositioning Controllers. The trajectory generation interface allows a user to scan through up to 500 position coordinates, with velocity and dwell time specified individually for each positioning event. These coordinates are downloaded to the controller...
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Using nPoint Piezo Stages with Auto Focus Systems
Auto Focus systems are developed to maintain precision focus over extended periods of time and can be used to automate image acquisition while scanning objects. Auto Focus systems combined with piezo stages can produce images with speed and precision even with varying environmental conditions. Auto Focus systems can be combined...
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Nanopositioning Stage Operating Conditions
Consideration of the environmental conditions where a nanopositioning system will operate is important to achieve the desired result for a given application. These conditions include: Piezo stages can be made from various materials such as invar, stainless steel, titanium and aluminum. Each has advantages; however it is often important to...