B-421 BIX Miniature Linear Stage

The B-421 is a miniature linear stage with piezoelectric inertia drive intended for positioning, aligning, and shifting loads in a single axis at different velocities in interval mode.

Applications and use cases

• Superresolution microscopy (e.g., TIRF, STORM)

• Light sheet microscopy (e.g., grid light sheet)

• Micro-assembly

• Photonics

• Optical alignment

• Beamline instrumentation

• Semiconductor technology

• Mobile metrology devices (e.g., spectroscopy, interferometry)

Technology

The B-421 is equipped with a piezoelectric inertia drive that is based on biphase inertia drive technology. Piezo inertia drives are space-saving and affordable piezo-based drives with relatively high holding forces and a virtually unlimited travel range. The inertia drive principle is based on two piezoelectric actuators that are controlled with a modified sawtooth voltage via the drive electronics. The actuators expand slowly and move a runner. Due to its inertia, the runner is unable to follow the subsequent fast contraction of the actuators and remains in its position. A symmetrical motor setup guarantees consistent drive characteristics in positive and negative directions of motion. The drives acting directly on the runner achieve velocities of up to 14 mm/s with an operating frequency of up to 20 kHz.