Brochure covers hexapod parallel kinematics systems/robots

The company says that a hexapod system (also known as a Stewart Platform), which is supplied with a special motion controller, has a number advantages over a stacked series of stages:

• Programmable pivot point for simple rotational alignment tasks
• Lower inertia and higher stiffness
• Better dynamic behaviour
• Smaller package size
• No accumulation of position errors, reduced runout errors
• No moving cables for better repeatability and reliability

The brochure presents a variety of standard and custom hexapod systems, featuring sub-micrometer resolution and load capacities from 2-1000kg.

PI has been designing and manufacturing hexapod positioning robots since the early 1990s. Today standard hexapods are available in various formats and sizes include servo motor-driven systems for moving large optics up to 1m diameter, to piezo-based designs for nanometre-precision control of semiconductor wafers and masks. Standard and custom systems are available in non-magnetic and vacuum-compatible versions.

These parallel motion systems are designed for applications in fields such as:

• Optics and photonics, telecommunication
• Astronomy/aerospace
• Biotechnology
• Semiconductor test and handling
• Microscopy

The hexapod brochure can be downloaded as a PDF from : www.hexapods.net/pdf/Hexapod_6-Axis_Brochure.htm.