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Faster Z-Motor for 3-D Microscopy & Nanofocussing Jan 3, 2008


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PI's P-725 frictionless piezo-Z motor drive allows faster focussing and 3-D image acquisition over long travel ranges.

P-725 PIFOC® nano focussing drives are designed for easy integration into high-resolution optical microscopes. The integrated piezo-flexure actuator provides rapid step response (~ 10 msec) and sub-nanometer resolution. The units are simply screwed between the turret and the objectives and offer a large Z-travel range of up to 460 µm.

More Information on PIFOC

Quick Response Saves Time in Throughput Intensive Focusing Applications / Reduces Effects of Photo-Bleaching
Piezo-actuated Z-drives, provide significantly faster response (typically 10 to 50 times) and achieve much higher focusing speed than conventional stepper motor Z-drives. This equates to much higher throughput and also significantly reduces the extent of photo-bleaching.

Z-stack Image Acquisition: How it Works
The PIFOC® units are ideal for high speed Z-stack image acquisition, the basis for the generation of 3-D views of samples in high-resolution, optical microscopes. Conventional Z-drives use a motorized actuator and motor controller to create numerous focus planes during focusing. The individual “slices” are then processed with special software to form one 3-D image.

Application Examples
Autofocusing, nanopositioning, scanning and alignment tasks in microscopy, biotechnology, optics, semiconductor technology and photonic packaging.

Features & Advantages
* Very Fast: 10 ms Response / Settling Time, Allows Faster Image Acquisition
* Sub-Nanometer Resolution, for Very High Image Quality
* Long Travel to 460 µm
* Precision Flexure Guides Eliminate Lateral Shifts of the Focal Point
* Compatible with Standard Microscope Objectives
* Controller Compatible with Universal Imaging Corporation™ Software
* Threads for all Standard Microscopes and Objectives Available
* Driven by the Award Winning PICMA® Piezo Actuators: Longer Lifetime

More Information on PIFOC

About PI
PI is a leading manufacturer of nanopositioning and precision motion-control equipment for photonics, nanotechnology, semiconductor and life science applications. PI has been developing and manufacturing standard & custom precision products with piezoelectric and electromagnetic drives for 35+ years. The company has been ISO 9001 certified since 1994 and provides innovative, high-quality solutions for OEM and research. PI is present worldwide with eight subsidiaries and total staff of 450+.