Products HomePiezo Control Module
- Two High Power Drive Outputs – 75 V, 500 mA
- Strain Gauge Closed Loop Nanometer Positioning
- Seamless Operation with Thorlabs Piezo Actuators
MPZ601
Full Suite of
Software Support
Tools Included
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| Rack System Modules |
|---|
| 2-Channel Piezo Control Module |
| 2-Channel Stepper Motor Control Module |
| 2-Channel NanoTrak® Auto-Alignment Module |
| 2-Channel Brushless DC Motor Control Module |
| USB Motion Control 19" Rack Chassis |
| All Thorlabs' Rack System Modules require the use of the MMR601 or MMR602 Rack System Enclosure. Independent operation of the modules outside the enclosure is not possible. |
Features
- Quiet High Resolution Position Control (for Very Fine Positioning Applications)
- Voltage Ramp and Waveform Generation Capability (for Scanning Applications)
- High Bandwidth (10 kHz) Piezo Positioning
- Auto-Configure Function for Thorlabs Identification-Equipped Piezo Actuators
- User Controlled Digital I/O Port
- User I/O Port (Logic Input/Outputs, Potentiometer Input)
- Kinesis® Software Control Suite Supplied
- Intuitive Software Graphical Control Panels
- Fully Software Integrated with Other Thorlabs Motion Controllers (Integrated Systems Development)
The MPZ601 piezo driver module is a dual channel high power (75 V, 500 mA) piezo controller. It has been designed to drive the full range of open and closed loop piezo equipped nano-positioning actuators and stages offered by Thorlabs. Equipped with strain gauge feedback circuitry on each channel this unit is able to provide closed loop positioning to the nanometer regime when operated with Thorlabs actuators. In addition flexible software settings make these units highly configurable and therefore suitable for driving a wide range of piezo elements in third party products. A waveform generation capability combined with triggering outputs makes this unit particularly suitable for piezo scanning applications.
This module incorporates the latest high-speed digital signal processing (DSP) and low-noise analog electronics technology and has been designed specifically to fit the highly flexible MMR601 or MMR602 Motion Control 19" Modular Rack System. Multiple MPZ601 piezo modules can be fitted to this rack system (providing up to 12 channels of operation per rack) to support larger scale critical alignment applications where nanometer level motion control is required with a high axis count.
USB connectivity via the MMR601 or MMR602 Rack Enclosure provides easy plug and play PC operation - multiple modules can be connected to a single PC via standard USB hub technology for multi-axis motion control applications. Coupling this with the user-friendly Kinesis software allows the user to very quickly get up and running in a short span of time. Advanced custom motion control applications and sequences are also possible using the extensive programming environment described in more detail in the Kinesis Software tab.
Cabling
Cables for connecting actuators or stages to the controller are shipped with the actuators or stages, not the controller. If you need help identifying the appropriate replacement cable, please contact Tech Support.
| Other Piezo Driver Controllers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| K-Cube® Controller and Strain Gauge Reader Single-Channel |
Open Loop Benchtop Controller 1- and 3-Channel |
Closed Loop Benchtop Controller 1- and 3-Channel |
Rack System Module 2-Channel |
Module Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Piezoelectric Output (SMC Male) - Per Channel | |
| Voltage (Software Control) | 0 to 75 V DC |
| Voltage (External Input) | -10 to 90 V DC |
| Current | 500 mA Max Continuous |
| Stability | 100 ppm Over 24 hours (After 30 mins Warm-Up Time) |
| Noise | <3 mV RMS |
| Typical Piezo Capacitance | 1 to 10 µF |
| Bandwidth | 10 kHz (1 µF Load, 1 Vp-p) |
| Position Feedback (9-Pin D-type Female) - Per Channel | |
| Feedback Type | AC Bridge or 0 - 10 V Differential DC (SW Selectable) |
| AC Feedback Transducer Type | Strain Gauge |
| AC Detection Method | AC Bridge (18 kHz Excitation) |
| Typical AC Feedback Resolution | 5 nm (for 20 µm Actuator e.g. PAZ005) |
| Auto-Configure | Identification Resistance in Actuator |
| User Input/Output (26-Pin D-type Female) | |
| Potentiometer Input (Per Channel) | Reference + Wiper (50 kΩ 10 Turn Pots) |
| HV Output Monitor (Per Channel) | 0 to 10 V DC |
| 4 Digital Inputs | TTL Levels |
| 4 Digital Outputs | Open Collector |
| Trigger Input/Output | TTL |
| Trigger Input Functionality | Triggered Voltage Ramps/Waveforms |
| Trigger Output Functionality | Trigger Generation During Voltage Ramp Output |
| User 5 V (with Ground) 250 mA Max | |
| General | |
| Housing | Single Rack System Bay |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 190 x 270 x 50 mm (7.5" x 10.6" x 2") |
| Weight | 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) |
User I/O Controller
D-type Female
| Pin | Description | Return | Pin | Description | Return | Pin | Description | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIG I/P 1a | 19 | 10 | DIG O/P 1a | 19 | 19 | Isolated Groundb | - |
| 2 | DIG I/P 2a | 19 | 11 | DIG O/P 2a | 19 | 20 | Ext Trigger I/P | 22 |
| 3 | DIG I/P 3a | 19 | 12 | DIG O/P 3a | 19 | 21 | Ext Trigger O/P | 22 |
| 4 | DIG I/P 4a | 19 | 13 | DIG O/P 4a | 19 | 22 | Ground | - |
| 5 | Channel 1 RS485 (+) | - | 14 | Channel 2 RS485 (+) | - | 23 | 5 V User O/P (Isolated) | - |
| 6 | Channel 1 RS485 (-) | - | 15 | Channel 2 RS485 (+) | - | 24 | Not Used | - |
| 7 | Not Used | - | 16 | Not Used | - | 25 | Analog or Potentiometer Ground | - |
| 8 | Channel 2 10 V O/Pc | 25 | 17 | Potentiometer Wiper Ch 2 | - | 26 | Potentiometer Reference | 25 |
| 9 | Channel 1 10 V O/Pc | 25 | 18 | Potentiometer Wiper Ch 2 | - |
Piezo Controller
D-type Female
| Pin | Description | Return | Pin | Description | Return | Pin | Description | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheatstone Bridge Excitation | 4 or 6 | 4 | d.c.(+) or Equipment Groundc | - | 7 | d.c.(-) or Actuator ID Signalbc | 4 or 6 |
| 2 | +15Va | 4 or 6 | 5 | Feedback Signal In | 4 or 6 | 8 | RS485 (-) | 9 |
| 3 | -15Va | 4 or 6 | 6 | Equiptment Ground | - | 9 | RS485 (+) | 8 |
Ext In (+) and Ext In (-)
BNC Female
Differential Inputs. The output from the HV amplifier circuit can be set to be controlled, in part, by the differential signal on these two inputs. If the Input Source is set to include a BNC option, the unit sums this differential signal with any other input sources selected (voltage set using the GUI panel 'Output' control and voltage from an external potentiometer).
HV Out
SMC
0 to 75 V, 0 to 250 mA. Provides the drive signal to the piezo actuator.
Piezo Driver Bandwidth Tutorial
Knowing the rate at which a piezo is capable of changing lengths is essential in many high-speed applications. The bandwidth of a piezo controller and stack can be estimated if the following is known:
- The maximum amount of current the controllers can produce. This is 0.5 A for our BPC Series Piezo Controllers, which is the driver used in the examples below.
- The load capacitance of the piezo. The higher the capacitance, the slower the system.
- The desired signal amplitude (V), which determines the length that the piezo extends.
- The absolute maximum bandwidth of the driver, which is independent of the load being driven.
To drive the output capacitor, current is needed to charge it and to discharge it. The change in charge, dV/dt, is called the slew rate. The larger the capacitance, the more current needed:
For example, if a 100 µm stack with a capacitance of 20 µF is being driven by a BPC Series piezo controller with a maximum current of 0.5 A, the slew rate is given by
Hence, for an instantaneous voltage change from 0 V to 75 V, it would take 3 ms for the output voltage to reach 75 V.
Note: For these calculations, it is assumed that the absolute maximum bandwidth of the driver is much higher than the bandwidths calculated, and thus, driver bandwidth is not a limiting factor. Also please note that these calculations only apply for open-loop systems. In closed-loop mode, the slow response of the feedback loop puts another limit on the bandwidth.
Sinusoidal Signal
Click to Enlarge
Figure 102A Piezo Driver Sine Signal
The bandwidth of the system usually refers to the system's response to a sinusoidal signal of a given amplitude. For a piezo element driven by a sinusoidal signal of peak amplitude A, peak-to-peak voltage Vpp, and frequency f, we have:
A diagram of voltage as a function of time is shown in Figure 102A. The maximum slew rate, or voltage change, is reached at t = 2nπ, (n=0, 1, 2,...) at point a in Figure 102A:
From Equation 1:
Thus,
For the example above, the maximum full-range (75 V) bandwidth would be
.
For a smaller piezo stack with 10 times lower capacitance, the results would be 10 times better, or about 1060 Hz. Or, if the peak-to-peak signal is reduced to 7.5 V (10% max amplitude) with the 100 µm stack, again, the result would be 10 times better at about 1060 Hz.
Click to Enlarge
Figure 102B Piezo Driver Triangle Wave Signal
Triangle Wave Signal
For a piezo actuator driven by a triangle wave of max voltage Vpeak and minimum voltage of 0, the slew rate is equal to the slope:
.
Or, since f = 1/T:
Click to Enlarge
Figure 102C Piezo Driver Square Wave Signal
Square Wave Signal
For a piezo actuator driven by a square wave of maximum voltage Vpeak and minimum voltage 0, the slew rate limits the minimum rise and fall times. In this case, the slew rate is equal to the slope while the signal is rising or falling. If tr is the minimum rise time, then
or
.
For additional information about piezo theory and operation, see the Piezoelectric Tutorials page.
Software
Kinesis Version 1.14.53
The Kinesis Software Package, which includes a GUI for control of Thorlabs' Kinesis system controllers.
Also Available:
- Communications Protocol
Figure 58A Kinesis GUI Screen
Thorlabs offers the Kinesis software package to drive our wide range of motion controllers. The software can be used to control devices in the Kinesis family, which covers a wide variety of motion controllers ranging from small, low-powered, single-channel drivers (such as the K-Cubes®) to high-power, multi-channel benchtop units and modular 19" rack nanopositioning systems (the MMR60x Rack System).
The Kinesis Software features .NET controls which can be used by 3rd party developers working in the latest C#, Visual Basic, LabVIEW™, or any .NET compatible languages to create custom applications. Low-level DLL libraries are included for applications not expected to use the .NET framework and APIs are included with each install. A Central Sequence Manager supports integration and synchronization of all Thorlabs motion control hardware.
By providing this common software platform, Thorlabs has ensured that users can mix and match any of our motion control devices in a single application, while only having to learn a single set of software tools. In this way, it is perfectly feasible to combine any of the controllers from single-axis to multi-axis systems and control all from a single, PC-based unified software interface.
The software package allows two methods of usage: graphical user interface (GUI) utilities for direct interaction with and control of the controllers 'out of the box', and a set of programming interfaces that allow custom-integrated positioning and alignment solutions to be easily programmed in the development language of choice.
| Posted Comments: | |
Ali xam
(posted 2025-01-27 08:55:35.51) Hello, I plan to use two of your controllers to control the position of four piezo actuators, model Mapia-01. Do you think this controller is suitable for this model? Is one modular rack enough to connect two controllers to a PC? cstroud
(posted 2025-02-03 09:00:51.0) Thanks for reaching out. The MPIA is a piezo inertia actuator and wouldn't be compatible with this type of piezo controller. I will contact you directly to discuss this further. user
(posted 2024-05-07 14:25:45.367) I could not find in the Specs information the bit resolution of the MPZ601 controller. Does Thorlabs have that information available? E.g., what is the smallest voltage step that this controller can achieve? spolineni
(posted 2024-05-15 04:38:53.0) Thank you for your inquiry. The DAC used to generate the output voltage determines the theoretical resolution in open loop. Practical factors, including offset and gain variations, limit this to around 2 mV. Noise and non-linearity of the DAC affect the output, causing unequal step sizes and deviations from the ideal linear progression. These factors collectively determine the complex, multi-variable performance. Mike Jaris
(posted 2021-09-20 14:44:27.423) Why is there a USB symbol next to this device that does not have a USB port?? cwright
(posted 2021-09-21 05:30:12.0) Response from Charles at Thorlabs: Thank you for your query. These modules are intended for use in the MMR601 Rack Enclosure which provides USB connectivity for up to six modules. Laurie
(posted 2009-02-05 15:34:15.0) Response from Laurie at Thorlabs to melsscal: Thank you for your inquiry about our MPZ601, which can work as piezo controller. However, if you want nano track function for auto alignment, youll need to use the MNA601 controller module, which requires either the MMR601 or MMR602 chassis. Each controller module has two channels, so if you wish to control all three channels, youll need two modules. Please contact our technical support department if youd like to discuss your particular application with someone. melsscal
(posted 2009-02-05 03:51:52.0) Can we use MPZ601 with MAX313/M as nano track controller ? |
Piezo + Strain Gauge Controller