Engineered Subsystems for Automation

Engineered subsystem with integrated linear motor axes for fast precision XY scanning, here for automated wafer inspection. Fine positioning in the vertical axis is done by a linear motor stage with integrated weight counterbalance

Precision components, stable control and a great deal of experience in engineering are essential for high-precision complex motion and positioning solutions. PI is a supplier of technologically sophisticated motion-centric solutions and therefore makes use of own drive components and high-precision positioners. All levels of integration can be offered up to multi-axis combinations that use different drive technologies including motion control.

Engineering designs of motion subsystems have been a part of PI's core business for many years. Customized solutions, fitting seamlessly into existing processes, advance automation in manufacturing and inspection processes for chip production or photonics packaging as well as major research installations.

Support and consulting for motion and positioning applications
Reliable and prompt series production even for large quantities
Economic design

Complex multi-axis designs and parallel kinematic robotics
Broad spectrum of in-house technologies: Drive, guide, and sensor technologies

In-house development of motion control electronics and software platform
Software support with libraries and drivers
Commissioning

Dr. Cliff Jolliffe Manager Market Segment Automation

Engineered subsystems are an essential approach to support our OEM and system integration customers. We also offer integration to our highly capable families of PI and ACS motion controllers.

Dr. Cliff Jolliffe, Head of Market Segment Industrial Automation

Quickly receive an answer to your question by email or phone from a local PI sales engineer.

0031 499 375 375 benelux@pi.ws

Precision components are the basis for high-quality multi-axis designs

The key to success is that the entire knowledge and experience of the PI Group is used for creating customized products for individual applications. Customized solutions are made easy with the broad portfolio of standard products available from one supplier. PI provides all the components for the system and configures the multi-axis structures.

Define together what the exact purpose of your question or application is
Cooperate closely with you on an engineering design level during the concept phase to find the perfect solution
Provide a technical and business proposal
Detail the complete system
The system is assembled, tested, approved by the customer and then delivered

Physik Instrumente Scott Jordan

To make new business fields profitable requires automated assembly technologies capable of achieving otherwise impractical combinations of throughput and precision across multiple degrees of freedom. On the basis of our broad product and technology portfolio, our experienced and creative engineers strive to develop the technically best possible motion solution for your process.

Scott Jordan, Head of Market Segment Photonics

Gantries are normally equipped with linear motors. Travel ranges of
up to 2 meters in XY are possible. If preferred, DC or stepper motors
can be used for the Z axis. If nanometer precision is required,
piezo actuators take care of dynamic fine adjustment

High-stiffness set-up for inspection of electronics

4-axis manipulator to adjust an X-ray lens in vacuum environment
to 10^-7 hPa

4 degrees of freedom in an XYZΘZ setup
based on standard positioning stages

Design for installing spectrometers covering a maximal acceptance angle.
The high symmetry of the setup results in high overall stiffness

A sophisticated system of feedback sensors and positioning devices allows
for active alignment and subsequent welding of fibers with high throughput
and reliability within one setup

High stiffness is required to position the vacuum
sample chamber (above) and attached detectors
for 4-pi-measurement of diffraction results.
The large base hexapod moves the entire structure
in six degrees of freedom and so positions it in the
synchrotron beam

Wafer inspection system with integrated linear motor axes for fast precision XY scanning.
Stepper motor axis for fine vertical position of the inspection equipment

Planar scanner with air bearings:
Resolution to 1 nm over travel ranges to 500 mm × 1000 mm Learn more

This example of a customized parallel-kinematic design for 6 axes of motion (SpaceFAB)
is used in a beamline application. The high load capacity of up to 250 kg and the
asymmetric layout with a long travel range in one direction, allows for positioning a sample
in the synchrotrom beam, and removing it. The stage is intended for use in radiation environment

Module with full functionality for a theta:2theta scanner
that includes the translatory motion of sample and detector.
The experiment is sensitive to light, which is the reason to
implement radiation-proof, magnetic encoders

The touchscreen is scanned with a precise and controlled
force. A 6-axis hexapod adjusts the contact angle with
microradian accuracy. This integrated system consists
mainly of standard stages and is used for automation of
inspection processes.

High stiffness and low vibration are essential
features of this optical inspection system for lenses

This subsystem facilitated research into packaging strategies and other preproduction
investigations involving Silicon Photonics chips. It integrated photonic
alignment automation, advanced camera options, a flexible rack of instrumentation
and extensible software.

56 different motorized axes are operated by 16 controllers. The overall weight of 20 tons makes this system the hitherto largest ever that PI has realized. Hexapods, rotary stages, and goniometers work together to provide a flexible solution for tasks in X-ray microscopy for the ANKA (Angströmquelle Karlsruhe) at the Karlsruhe Institute for Technology (KIT)

PIMag® Gantry System — Precision components, stable control and a great deal of experience in engineering are essential for high-precision complex motion and positioning solutions. PI is a supplier of technologically sophisticated drive components and high-precision positioners and also offers all levels of integration up to the turnkey solution. Engineering services have been a part of PI’s core business for many years. Complete solutions, fitting seamlessly into existing processes, advance automation in major research installations as well as manufacturing and inspection processes for chip production or photonics packaging.

Precision components, stable control and a great deal of experience in engineering are essential for high-precision complex motion and positioning solutions. PI is a supplier of technologically sophisticated drive components and high-precision positioners and also offers all levels of integration up to the turnkey solution. Engineering services have been a part of PI’s core business for many years. Complete solutions, fitting seamlessly into existing processes, advance automation in major research installations as well as manufacturing and inspection processes for chip production or photonics packaging.

PI System for Microscopy, Tomography, Laminography

Get to know the MiQA (Microscopy and Quality Assurance) system from PI miCos. The unique system, which consists of hexapods, rotation stages, goniometers, and a custom sample stage, will be used by the ANKA (Angströmquelle Karlsruhe) at the Karlsruhe Institute. The system will be used in a beamline for X-ray microscopy and the qualification of x-ray optics.

PI - Delivery of the MiQA to the KIT

Join us on the journey of the MiQA (Microscopy and Quality Assurance) system from its place of origin at PI miCos in Eschbach to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The system will be used in the ANKA (Angströmquelle Karlsruhe) for X-ray microscopy and the qualification of x-ray optics.

Simultaneous 2D Processing — Together with SCANLAB and ACS, PI offers a motion control solution for laser material processing, which combines the laser beam scanner and sample scanner, provides the ability to mark and process large pieces with very high precision and an ultimate throughput.

Together with SCANLAB and ACS, PI offers a motion control solution for laser material processing, which combines the laser beam scanner and sample scanner, provides the ability to mark and process large pieces with very high precision and an ultimate throughput.

PI - Kinematic Carrying Platform for an X-Ray Spectrometer

In this video, Dr. Markus Simon from PI miCos shows a special system set-up that is used for synchrotron x-ray spectroscopy. The system uses products from the field of hexapod technology and can be used for example, for material testing.

The production spectrum ranging from integrated systems, a two-ton hexapod to a 10-gram nanopositioner requires that PI has available equipment and technologies with which these systems can be manufactured, assembled, and qualified.

5,000 m² clean room for production
Climate- and vibration-isolated measuring conditions
Vacuum technology for environments to 10^-10 hPa

Metrology with traceable, calibrated external measuring equipment

Monitoring of piezo actuator technology from material composition to final inspection

In-house manufacturing of positioning sensors

Heavy Duty Hall with lifting-rotating equipment
Fractal Organization of Production Processes

The professional production, assembly and qualification has top priority, starting from the first prototype.

Ralf Fütterer, Head of the Manufacturing Fractal for Customized Products

Levels of Integration

PI is a leading supplier of high-precision devices in various states of integration. Components like piezo drives, sensors and compact motion controllers can be adapted to fit into OEM machines and production equipment. Manufacturing capacity for volume production is granted. The classical positioning system provides easiest set-up and allows for individual integration into an application. Fully integrated motion systems offer full functionality designed according to unique market requirements.