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Products Home / Optomechanical Components / Vacuum Components / Vacuum-Compatible Piezoelectric Inertia ActuatorVacuum-Compatible Piezoelectric Inertia Actuator
- Vacuum-Compatible Down to 10-6 Torr
- 20 nm Typical Step Size
- 2.5 kg Max Axial Load Capacity and 25 N Max Axial Preload
- 2 mm/min Typical Velocity
PIA13VF
13 mm Travel Range,
3/8"-40 Thread and Ø3/8" Barrel
KIM101
Four Channel Piezo
Inertia Motor Controller
(Not to Scale; Sold Separately)
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| Key Specificationsa | ||
|---|---|---|
| Item # | PIA13VF | |
| Travel | 13 mm (0.51") | |
| Typical Step Sizeb,c | 20 nm | |
| Maximum Step Size | 30 nm | |
| Step Size Adjustabilityc | ≤30% | |
| Maximum Step Frequencyd | 2000 Hz | |
| Maximum Axial Preloade | 25 N | |
| Recommended Maximum Axial Load Capacityf |
2.5 kg (5.51 lbs) | |
| Velocity (Continuous Stepping) |
2 mm/min (Typical) <3.5 mm/min (Maximum) |
|
| Drive Screw | 1/4"-80 Thread, Hard PVD Coated | |
| Motor Type | Piezoelectric Inertia | |
| Mounting Options |
Threaded | 3/8"-40 |
| Smooth | Ø3/8" (Ø9.5 mm) | |
| Vacuum Rating | 10-6 Torr | |
| Required Controller | KIM001 or KIM101 | |
Click for Details
The control cable can be adjusted up to 110° for space-constrained applications.
Features
- Compact Design, 31.5 mm x 17.0 mm (W x H)
- Piezo Inertia Actuator Offers 20 nm Typical Step Size
- Manual Adjustment via Rear-Located Thumbscrew
- Rated Down To 10-6 Torr
- 125 V Maximum Operating Voltage
- Ø3/8" Mounting Barrel for Compatibility with Translation Stages
- Ideal for Set-and-Hold Applications that Require Relative Positioning with High Resolutions
- Control Cable can be Adjusted up to 110° for Space-Constrained Applications
Thorlabs' PIA13VF Vacuum-Compatible Piezoelectric Inertia Actuator provides high-resolution linear motion control with a 13 mm piezo-controlled translation range in a compact, vacuum-compatible package. The actuator can support loads up to 2.5 kg and preloads up to 25 N with typical movements of 20 nm and no backlash. The step size can be adjusted up to 30% to a maximum of 30 nm using the KIM001 or KIM101 Controllers. Due to the open-loop design, hysteresis, and application conditions, the achieved step size of the system can vary over 20%. An external feedback system will need to be used to overcome this variance. We also offer standard piezo inertia actuators for non-vacuum applications.
The actuator is self-locking when at rest and when there is no power supplied to the piezo, making these actuators ideal for set-and-hold applications that require nanometer resolution and long-term alignment stability. Manual adjustments can be made at any time, as long as the piezo is not actively translating the screw, by using the rear-located thumbscrew or with a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex key.
Powered by a 10 mm long discrete piezo stack, this actuator operates at speeds of up to 3.5 mm/min. The design of the piezo motor, detailed below, will rotate the tip of the lead screw during translation. As shown in the image above, the control cable for each actuator can be rotated up to 110° for space-constrained applications.
Mounting Options
The actuator contains a Ø3/8" barrel that can be mounted in any manual stage that has a Ø3/8" mounting clamp. At the end of the barrel there is also a 3/8"-40 thread.
Required Controller
A KIM001 or KIM101 Controller, available below, is required to operate this actuator; it cannot be driven using a standard piezo controller. These drivers have an internal sawtooth voltage signal generator capable of sending sub-millisecond pulses (steps) with controllable amplitudes from 85 V to 125 V. The actuator has an integrated 0.75 m flying lead, plus 1.0 m of cored cable for wiring outside the vacuum chamber. The flying leads and cored cable lengths can be cut down as needed, but the total length (inside and outside) should not exceed 2.0 m.
Click to Enlarge
Simplified Illustration Showing the Operation of an Inertia Piezo Actuator
Piezoelectric Inertia "Slip-Stick" Motor
A piezo stack mounted perpendicular to the lead screw axis actuates the screw via a design based on the system's inertia and coefficients of friction. Two decoupled arms, or jaws, are located on either side of the piezo. These arms then extend around the top and bottom of the main lead screw. This is illustrated in the diagram to the left.
The piezo reacts to a custom sawtooth voltage waveform, causing it to expand or contract. The waveform is asymmetric, slowly ramping up to the specified voltage and then quickly dropping the voltage to zero on a nanosecond timescale. As shown in the bottom illustration to the left, the jaws will "stick" to the lead screw during the slow voltage ramp, similar to how a person would turn a screw with their thumb and forefinger. The nanosecond voltage drop will cause the arms to "slip" due to the screws' inertia and the different coefficients of friction, and return the arms to their original position. The "slip-stick" nature of this device uses very short pulse widths and continuous stepping of the actuator will result in an audible noise at a typical level of 60 to 70 dB. This mechanism allows a single piezo element to translate a lead screw along its entire length.
Due to a number of factors that include the application condition, piezo hysteresis, component variance, and the axial load, the achieved step size will vary and is not repeatable. To help overcome this variance, an external feedback system will need to be used. Alternatively, a stepper motor actuator can also be substituted depending on the application.
| Item # | PIA13VF |
|---|---|
| Travel | 13 mm (0.51") |
| Typical Step Sizea,b | 20 nm |
| Maximum Step Size | 30 nm |
| Step Size Adjustabilityb | ≤30% |
| Maximum Step Frequencyc | 2000 Hz |
| Backlash | None |
| Maximum Active Axial Preloadd | 25 N |
| Recommended Maximum Active Axial Load Capacitye |
2.5 kg (5.51 lbs) |
| Velocity (Continuous Stepping) | 2 mm/min (Typical) <3.5 mm/min (Maximum) |
| Drive Screw | 1/4"-80 Thread, Hard PVD Coated |
| Actuator Tip | Tungsten Carbide-Coated Ball |
| Lifetime | >1,000,000,000 Steps |
| Motor Type | Piezoelectric Inertia |
| Piezo Specifications | |
| Voltage Rating | 125 V |
| Capacitance | 175 nF |
| Resonant Frequency | 125 kHz (No Load) |
| Physical Specifications | |
| Dimensionsf (L x W x H) | 59.4 mm x 31.5 mm x 17.0 mm (2.34" x 1.24" x 0.67") |
| Mounting Options | 3/8"-40 Threaded Barrel |
| Ø9.5 mm (Ø3/8") Barrel | |
| Vacuum Rating | 10-6 Torr |
| Operating Temperature | 5 to 130 °C (41 to 266 °F) |
| Cable Length | 0.75 m (2.48 ft) Flying Lead for Vacuum, 1.0 m (3.3 ft) of Cored Cable for Wiring Outside Chamber |
| Connector Type | SMC Female |
| Cable Exit Adjustability | ±55° for Left- or Right-Hand Exit |
| Compatible Controller | KIM001 or KIM101 |
Thorlabs offers two platforms to drive our wide range of motion controllers: our Kinesis® software package or the legacy APT™ (Advanced Positioning Technology) software package. Either package can be used to control devices in the Kinesis family, which covers a wide range of motion controllers ranging from small, low-powered, single-channel drivers (such as the K-Cubes™ and T-Cubes™) to high-power, multi-channel, modular 19" rack nanopositioning systems (the APT 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. A Central Sequence Manager supports integration and synchronization of all Thorlabs motion control hardware.
Kinesis GUI Screen
APT GUI Screen
Our legacy APT System Software platform offers ActiveX-based controls which can be used by 3rd party developers working on C#, Visual Basic, LabVIEW™, or any Active-X compatible languages to create custom applications and includes a simulator mode to assist in developing custom applications without requiring hardware.
By providing these common software platforms, Thorlabs has ensured that users can easily mix and match any of the Kinesis and APT controllers 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 packages allow 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.
A range of video tutorials is available to help explain our APT system software. These tutorials provide an overview of the software and the APT Config utility. Additionally, a tutorial video is available to explain how to select simulator mode within the software, which allows the user to experiment with the software without a controller connected. Please select the APT Tutorials tab above to view these videos.
Software
Kinesis Version 1.14.21
The Kinesis Software Package, which includes a GUI for control of Thorlabs' Kinesis and APT™ system controllers.
Also Available:
- Communications Protocol
Software
APT Version 3.21.4
The APT Software Package, which includes a GUI for control of Thorlabs' APT™ and Kinesis system controllers.
Also Available:
- Communications Protocol
Thorlabs' Kinesis® software features new .NET controls which can be used by third-party developers working in the latest C#, Visual Basic, LabVIEW™, or any .NET compatible languages to create custom applications.
C#
This programming language is designed to allow multiple programming paradigms, or languages, to be used, thus allowing for complex problems to be solved in an easy or efficient manner. It encompasses typing, imperative, declarative, functional, generic, object-oriented, and component-oriented programming. By providing functionality with this common software platform, Thorlabs has ensured that users can easily mix and match any of the Kinesis controllers 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 the low-powered, single-axis to the high-powered, multi-axis systems and control all from a single, PC-based unified software interface.
The Kinesis System Software allows two methods of usage: graphical user interface (GUI) utilities for direct interaction 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.
For a collection of example projects that can be compiled and run to demonstrate the different ways in which developers can build on the Kinesis motion control libraries, click on the links below. Please note that a separate integrated development environment (IDE) (e.g., Microsoft Visual Studio) will be required to execute the Quick Start examples. The C# example projects can be executed using the included .NET controls in the Kinesis software package (see the Kinesis Software tab for details).
 |
Click Here for the Kinesis with C# Quick Start Guide Click Here for C# Example Projects Click Here for Quick Start Device Control Examples |
|
LabVIEW
LabVIEW can be used to communicate with any Kinesis- or APT-based controller via .NET controls. In LabVIEW, you build a user interface, known as a front panel, with a set of tools and objects and then add code using graphical representations of functions to control the front panel objects. The LabVIEW tutorial, provided below, provides some information on using the .NET controls to create control GUIs for Kinesis- and APT-driven devices within LabVIEW. It includes an overview with basic information about using controllers in LabVIEW and explains the setup procedure that needs to be completed before using a LabVIEW GUI to operate a device.
 |
Click Here to View the LabVIEW Guide Click Here to View the Kinesis with LabVIEW Overview Page |
|
These videos illustrate some of the basics of using the APT System Software from both a non-programming and a programming point of view. There are videos that illustrate usage of the supplied APT utilities that allow immediate control of the APT controllers out of the box. There are also a number of videos that explain the basics of programming custom software applications using Visual Basic, LabView and Visual C++. Watch the videos now to see what we mean.
 |
Click here to view the video tutorial | |
To further assist programmers, a guide to programming the APT software in LabView is also available.
|
Click here to view the LabView guide | |
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Zoom- Actuator Provides High-Resolution Linear Motion in a Compact Package
- Ø3/8" (Ø9.5 mm) Barrel for Mounting to Any Manual Stage that has a Ø3/8" (Ø9.5 mm) Mounting Clamp
- Requires the KIM001 or KIM101 Controllers to Operate (Sold Separately Below)
The PIA13VF Vacuum-Compatible Piezoelectric Inertia Actuator is ideal for any set-and-forget vacuum application, particularly where space is limited. Its primary function is to set a relative position and hold, whereby switching the controller off will result in the same drift as a 1/4"-80 fine drive screw. This actuator is designed for use with our range of small positioning stages and optical mounts, and can provide nanometer resolution with long-term alignment stability. Manual adjustments are also available using the rear-located thumbscrew or a 5/64" (2.0 mm) hex key. To order vacuum-compatible versions of our stages and mirror mounts, please contact Technical Support.
Zoom| Key Specificationsa | ||
|---|---|---|
| Item # | KIM001 | KIM101 |
| Piezoelectric Outputs (SMC Male) | One | Four |
| Piezo Output Voltage | 85 to 125 VDC | 85 to 125 VDC per Channel |
| Top Panel Controls | Scroll Wheel | Dual-Axis Joystick |
| External Input (SMA Female) |
±10 V ± 2% | |
| Input Power | +15 VDC @ 2 A | |
| Housing Dimensionsb |
60.0 mm x 60.0 mm x 47.0 mm (2.36" x 2.36" x 1.85") |
121.0 mm x 60.0 mm x 47.0 mm (4.76" x 2.36" x 1.85") |
| Compatible Software | Kinesis | Kinesis & Legacy APT |
- For complete specifications, please see the manuals by clicking the red Docs icons (
) below. - Not Including Mounting Plate
- Compact Footprints
- Adjustable Voltage Output from 85 V to 125 V
- Single-Channel and Four-Channel Versions Available
- Standalone Operation via Top Panel Controls and Display or PC Control via USB Plug and Play
These compact K-Cube Controllers provide easy manual and PC control of our piezo inertia stages, actuators, and optic mounts. They feature adjustable voltage output from 85 V to 125 V. The top panel display screen enables operation as soon as the unit is turned on, without the need for connection to a PC. Alternatively, both controllers have USB connectivity that provides 'Plug-and-Play' PC-controlled operation with our Kinesis® software package (included). The KIM101 controller can also be operated with our legacy APT™ (Advanced Positioning Technology) software package.
These units have small footprints and may be mounted directly to the optical table using the 1/4" (M6) counterbored slots in the base plate. Their compact size allows these controllers to be positioned close to the motorized system for added convenience when manually adjusting motor positions using the top panel controls. Tabletop operation also allows minimal drive cable lengths for easier cable management.
Please note that these controllers do not ship with a power supply. Compatible power supplies are listed below.
KIM001 Single-Channel Controller
This single-channel piezo inertia controller provides a voltage output for a single piezo inertia stage or actuator. The top panel features a spring-loaded scroll wheel for driving the stage or actuator as well as selecting menu options.
KIM101 Four-Channel Controller
This four-channel controller features four SMC outputs to drive piezo inertia devices. The channels can be controlled independently or simultaneously in pairs using the dual-axis joystick on the controller's top panel. The controller can be configured to operate up to four PD series piezo inertia stages, up to four PIA seies piezo inertia actuators, or up to two PIM series piezo inertia optic mounts; one KIM101 can only concurrently drive devices that use the same "Select Stage" configuration in the controller's menu options (see the manuals for more details).
For more information, please see the full web presentation.
Power Supply Options
The preferred power supply for the KM001 and KIM101 controllers depends on the end user's application and whether you already own compatible power supplies. To that end and in keeping with Thorlabs' green initiative, we do not ship these units bundled with a power supply. This avoids the cost and inconvenience of receiving an unwanted single channel supply if a multi-channel or hub-based system would be more appropriate. The power supply options compatible with the KIM001 and KIM101 Piezo Inertia Controllers are listed in the section below.
Zoom
Click for Details
A location-specific adapter is shipped with the power supply unit based on your location. The adapters for the KPS101 are shown here.
Click to Enlarge
The KPS101 Power Supply Unit
- Individual Power Supply
- KPS101: For K-Cubes™ or T-Cubes™ with 3.5 mm Jacks
- USB Controller Hubs Provide Power and Communications
- KCH301: For up to Three K-Cubes or T-Cubes
- KCH601: For up to Six K-Cubes or T-Cubes
The KPS101 power supply outputs +15 VDC at up to 2.4 A and can power a single K-Cube or T-Cube with a 3.5 mm jack. It plugs into a standard wall outlet.
The KCH301 and KCH601 USB Controller Hubs each consist of two parts: the hub, which can support up to three (KCH301) or six (KCH601) K-Cubes or T-Cubes, and a power supply that plugs into a standard wall outlet. The hub draws a maximum current of 10 A; please verify that the cubes being used do not require a total current of more than 10 A. In addition, the hub provides USB connectivity to any docked K-Cube or T-Cube through a single USB connection.
For more information on the USB Controller Hubs, see the full web presentation.
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