White Papers

Rapid development for launch of a complex positioning system

Introduction Positioning stages capable of micron-scale accuracy, repeatability, straightness, and flatness play essential roles in applications ranging from life sciences to semiconductor fabrication. Unfortunately, developing stages with this level of performance can be difficult and time-consuming. Translating design will volume production can be even harder. This is a problem, because...

Hybrid Piezo Gripper Combines High Force with Wide Opening Distance

In the macro world, a variety of options exist for precision positioning, such as rotary motors with screw-type actuators or linear motors. At the sub-micron scale, things become more difficult. Conventional approaches present significant performance and environmental barriers.

Clearing Up Some of the Misconceptions Around Accuracy, Repeatability, and Resolution

Garbage in, garbage out doesn’t just hold for computer programming. Building a motion system that will effectively serve the application starts with properly defining performance requirements like accuracy, repeatability, and resolution. Unfortunately, a fair amount of confusion exists around these metrics (and other non-metrics) used to characterize positioning capabilities. Let’s take a closer look.

A Cost-Conscious Approach to Boosting Accuracy in Screw-Driven Stages

Introduction One of the most important aspects of engineering is choosing the most effective solution for the task at hand. That means finding a balance among factors like accuracy, footprint, and cost. Linear-motor stages might provide the best performance but are frequently too expensive for many applications. Screw-driven stages are...

Stage positioning errors have you down? Error mapping may not be the answer

Understanding the Benefits – and Limitations – of Stage Error Mapping

Stage error mapping is often presented as a low-cost way to get better performance from a less expensive stage. It’s also suggested as a way to achieve extremely tight accuracy specifications, but the numbers can be misleading.

How to Choose the Best Motion System for Your Step and Settle Application

Step and settle motion plays a critical role in applications ranging from life-sciences to medical to semiconductor and materials science.

1 2