PI (Physik Instrumente) LP offers a new closed-loop digital motion controller for precision positioning systems, model C-884.4D.

Auburn, MA March 13, 2013

Precision motion control is crucial for to many high-tech fields from semiconductor manufacturing and aerospace to atomic force microscopy.

Requirements for precision positioning systems are constantly getting tougher and motion increments on the nanometer and even sub-nanometer level are feasible with the latest designs.

While PI offers many high-end controllers for sub-nanometer precise motion, the new C-884, was designed as an affordable option with a very good performance / cost ratio in mind. The C-884, 4-axis digital servo controller controls motorized linear translation stages, actuators and rotary positioners with very high accuracy and repeatability. The high-speed encoder interface allows the use of the latest direct-metrology linear and angular scales with resolutions down to the nanometer and microrad realm.

PI's new controller is equipped with a dual-core architecture for fast servo handling and command interpretation. A wealth of software tools are provided for ease of operation. The included PIMikroMove software helps the user to get up to speed quickly, without the need for writing a single line of code. For programmers PI's General Command Set (GCS) simplifies the development of custom applications significantly reducing the risk for errors, because the commands for all supported PI devices are identical in syntax and function. Through the use of the GCS command set with its convenient functions, the orientation phase and application development process is vastly accelerated. The GCS commands are available at the controller terminal, in macros and in the form of a universal driver set for LabVIEW (VIs), Windows dynamic link libraries (DLL) and Linux libraries

Other useful functions for programmers and users as well are the data recorder (real-time recording or motor voltage, velocity, actual position and position errors, etc) and the stand-alone capability which is made possible by means of a computer-independent macro programming language that runs on the controller.

This new servo positioning controller supports several motion profiles, linear vector motion, point-to-point motion. PID parameters can be changed on the fly, the servo update rate is 20 kHz. Communication is through industry standard TCP/IP, USB and RS-232 interfaces.