Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG - Companies

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Microscopy & Imaging Products

Selection Guide: Microscopy Solutions: Nanopositioning Systems & Piezo Stages

Piezo positioning & scanning stages are fundamental tools for high-resolution microscopy. The rapid response and sub-atomic resolution allow scientists to create higher-quality images faster.

PI provides a large variety of fast objective lens positioners (Z-motors), and z-stages (slide-scanners, well-plate scanners, sample scanners) for for deconvolution and 3D imaging (Z-stack acquisition) and fast focussing applications.

PI nano^TM series XY and XYZ piezo stage systems are known for their very high performance and low cost.

PI's piezo-actuated Z-scanners typically achieve 10 times higher focusing speed & precision than classical motorized drives. Controllers come with a USB, RS-232 and TCP/IP digital interface as well as high-bandwidth analog interface, for extremely fast response and compatibility with all major image acquisition packages.





	Models*	Description	Travel [µm]	Sensor	Dynamics*	Precision**



Superresolution Microscopy

	P-545	PI nano^TM XY(Z) low profile piezo stage for superresolution microscopy, large aperture, includes advanced controller: 24-Bit, USB, TCP/IP, RS-232 and Analog Interface M-545 manual stage option	to 200 x 200 x 200 µm	Piezo Resistive	+++oo	+++oo

	M-545	XY microscope stage with 25 x 25 mm travel shown with PI nano^TM piezo nanopositioner (200 µm motion in X, Y und Z) on top. Stiff, high-stability design, ideal basis for fast piezo scanning stages. Manual and motorized versions.	25x25 mm	-

Fastest Slide Scanner

	P-736	High-Speed piezo-driven slide scanner. 5 millisec response time. Closed-loop with piezoresistive sensors	100, 200	Piezo Resistive	+++++	+++oo

Fastest Objective Z-Positioner

	P-726	PIFOC^® high-dynamic piezo Z scanner for heavy objectives, direct metrology.	100	Capacitive	+++++	+++++

Fastest XYZ Piezo Nanopositioning Stage for Single Molecule Tracking, SM Microscopy

	P-733.2DD, P-733.3DD	High-speed scanning piezostage, XY and XYZ versions, ideal for tasks like scanning microscopy, single molecule tracking	30 x 30 (x10)	Capacitive	+++++	+++++

Optical Trapping - Highest Stability & Linearity

	P-517, P-527	Multi-axis (XY, XYZ, XYθ_z) stage 66 x 66 mm clear aperture. Faster Z than PIMars^{^TM} Stages	to 200 in XY, 20 in Z, to 4 mrad	Capacitive	+++oo	++++o

	P-561 - P-563	PIMars^{^TM} multi-axis piezostage, XY, XYZ, travel range to 300µm/axis Longer Z-Travel than P-527	to 300 x 300 x 300	Capacitive	+++oo	++++o

	E-710	Advanced digital piezo controller for optical trapping, static & dynamic linearization, 3 to 6 Channels, Capacitive Feedback, Multiple Interfaces, High Speed

Long-Travel, Self-Braking Piezo Motor Stage

	M-686	XY long travel piezo motor stage, 25x25mm extremely high stability due to autolocking ceramic motors, large aperture, linear encoder combines with PI nanopositioning / scanning stages Paper on Stability	25 x 25 mm	Linear Encoder	-	-

Economical XYZ Piezo Nanopositioning Stage

	P-545	PI nano^TM XY(Z) low profile piezo stage for superresolution microscopy, large aperture with Controller 24-Bit, USB, TCP/IP, RS-232 and Analog Interface M-545 manual stage option	to 200 x 200 x 200 µm	Piezoresistive	+++oo	+++oo

AFM, Protein Folding, DNA

	P-363	PicoCube^® XY and XYZ high-precision system for AFM, SPM, nanomanipulation; 50 picometer resolution.	5 / Axis	Capacitive	+++++	+++++

	P-313	PicoCube^® XYZ high-presision scanner for bio- / nanomanipulation. Fastest, highest resolution piezo stage.	1 x 1 x 0.8	-	+++oo	+++oo

Economical AFM

	P-620.2 - P-629.2	PIHera^® XY piezo nanopositioners, Very compact & accurate (direct metrology), long travel range.	50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 1800	Capacitive	+++oo	+++oo

Z-Stages and Objective Z-Scanners

Fastest Piezo-Focussing Objective Z-Positioner

	P-726	PIFOC^® high-dynamic piezo focussing Z scanner for heavy objectives, direct metrology.	100	Capacitive	+++++	+++++

Long Travel Objective Z-Positioner

	P-725	PIFOC^® Z objective piezo nanofocusing system, compact, light-weight, long travel ranges, QuickLock mounting system, direct metrology.	100, 250, 400	Capacitive	++ooo	+++oo

Standard Objective Positioners

	P-721.CDQ P-721.SL2	PIFOC^® Z objective piezo focussing system, very fast and accurate, with QuickLock mounting system, direct metrology.	100	Capacitive / SGS	+++oo	++++o

Well Plate Z-Stage

	P-737	PIFOC^® Z-axis microscopy piezo focussing stage for high-resolution sample positioning and scanning	100, 250, 500 µm	SGS	++ooo	+++oo

Fast Laser Beam Steering Mirrors

	S-334	Fast Piezo Steering Mirror, parallel kinematics design, very large optical deflection: 120 mrad; ultra-compact.	-	SGS	+++oo	+++oo

Other Nanopositioning Stages

	P-725.XDD	PIFOC^® Z nanopositioning and scanning system for microscope objectives, direct metrology.	20	Capacitive / SGS	+++++	+++++

	P-720	PIFOC^® Z objective piezo nanofocusing system, very compact, without sensors.	100	-	++ooo	++ooo

	P-732.ZC	High-Dynamics Vertical Z Nanopositioning/Scanning Piezostage	15	Capacitive	++++o	+++oo

	P-612.Z	Compact, Low-Cost, Z Stage	100	SGS	++ooo	++ooo

	P-541.Z	Low-profile Z-stage, 80 x 80 mm aperture, Z & Z, Tip/Tilt	100	Capacitive / SGS	++ooo	+++oo

	P-518 - P-558	Z-axis and tip/tilt platforms clear aperture, Z & Z-Tip/Tilt	to 200 in Z, 4 mrad	Capacitive	+++oo	++++o

	P-712	Compact X-scanner, fast.	30	- / SGS	+++++	++ooo

	P-714	Ultracompact XY- scanner, fast	15	SGS	+++++	++ooo

	P-612.2	Compact, low-cost, XY stage. 100 x 100 µm travel, clear aperture.	100 x 100	SGS	++ooo	++ooo

	P-541 P-542	Low profile XY scanning stage, 80 x 80 mm aperture, high-speed direct drive version available.	to 200 in XY	Capacitive / SGS	++ooo	+++oo

	P-733	XY(Z) piezo scanning piezostage, 50 x 50 mm aperture, vacuum versions available.	100 x 100 (x 10)	Capacitive	+++oo	++++o

	P-734	XY nanoscanning stage, extremely flat and straight (1 - 2 nm); 56 x 56 mm clear aperture.	100 x 100	Capacitive	+++oo	+++++

	P-915K	XYZ large (340 x 340 x 60 mm) vacuum compatible scanner, clear aperture 200 x 200 mm.	100 x 100 x 100	Capacitive	+++oo	++++o