Manufacturing
Marketing Partner
PI USA (Physik Instrumente)
PI is a privately held company that designs and manufactures world-class precision motion and automation systems including air bearings, hexapods and piezo drives at locations in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company was founded 5 decades ago and today employs more than 1300 people worldwide. PI's customers are leaders in high-tech industries and research institutes in fields such as photonics, life-sciences, semiconductors and aerospace.
Mailing Address:
16 Albert Street
Auburn, MA 01501
United States of America
Tel: 508-832-3456
Email: info@pi-usa.us
Website: https://www.pi-usa.us/en/
Company Category: Factory Automation
Company Sector: Manufacturing
Keywords: Nano-precision motion systems, air bearings, hexapods, piezo
Partner Status: Marketing Partner
Products
PI USA - High Precision R-Theta Stages for Semicon, Laser Processing Apps
2-axis R-Theta motion systems are better suited to spiral motion than Cartesian XY stages. R-Theta systems often find applications in precision laser / semiconductor applications due to higher throughput, precision, and smaller size. See examples and options.
Articles
Fiber Alignment and Photonic Chip Test & Assembly Just Got Easier
The new algorithm and technology have the potential to drastically reduce complex fiber alignment and photonics alignment procedure times by several orders of magnitude, surpassing any other existing technique used for automated fiber optic alignment in the market.
Nanopositioning and Motion Control Solutions for the Semiconductor Industry
Recently, the convergence of photonics and electronics, known as Silicon Photonics, has marked a significant advancement in both performance and the reduction of power consumption.
Elevating Precision Motion and Control with Magnetic Levitation to New Heights
What sets magnetic levitation apart is the ability to create a contactless, ultra-high-precision virtual bearing within our control system”. Dr. Christian Rudolf provides a glimpse into the exciting development journey of PI's magnetic levitation solutions.
Comparing XY-Theta Motion / Positioning Stage Options for Precision Automation Applications
These systems can be configured and supplied as individual components or as complete integrated motion systems with custom interfaces, cable management solutions, vacuum feedthroughs and application-optimized integrated granite and aluminum structures.
Improving Image Stabilization with Hexapod 6-Axis Motion Simulators for More Reliable Image Capturing
Taking sharp pictures despite fast changing lighting and ambient conditions, recognizing traffic signs or road markings in driver assistance systems, or identifying dangerous situations in surveillance systems – all of this is possible today with the help of modern cameras.
How Hexapod Robotic Platforms Can be used to Test Image Quality of Digital Imaging Cameras
Taking sharp pictures despite poor lighting conditions, taking snapshots without blurring, recognizing traffic signs and road markings or identifying dangerous situations with specific systems - all of this is possible today with the help of modern cameras.
Why Repeatability and Accuracy are Different in Motion and Positioning Related Applications
The terms accuracy and repeatability are often used interchangeably. However, accuracy is not possible without repeatability, but repeatability is achievable without accuracy. There are other errors, too, non-linearity errors, and linearity errors caused by thermal effects.
LIDAR: How Smart Active Alignment Mechanisms can Reduce Manufacturing Costs
Today, tantalizing futuristic transportation applications have motivated this mushrooming industry to develop an impressive array of clever new implementations, accompanied by a wave of investment from venture capitalists, software giants, and established players ...
Gantry Systems for High Performance 3D Printing Applications
3D Printing motion systems are built from standard 3D Print optimized gantry platforms and pre-configured for use with Nordson Ultimus V (or customized to extruder). The direct hardware integration has been considered.
What is the Difference between Hexapod 6-DOF Alignment Systems vs Conventional Stacks of Stages?
When faced with a multi-axis alignment and positioning application, motion engineers typically assemble a system from a stack of individual linear and rotary stages. This approach works well for applications when only a few degrees of freedom are involved (e.g. XYZ).
How to Improve the Precision of Positioning Stages with ACS Dynamic Error Compensation
Precision motion systems always exhibit some amount of positioning inaccuracy (or position error) due to various factors. These errors can be measured using external measurement devices, such as a laser interferometer...
Precision Robotics and Automation: Hexapods Advance Production Processes
Traditional robots can handle heavy loads at high speed, but lack positioning accuracy. Hexapod robots - six-legged parallel-kinematic machines - have a long history in precision optics alignment & micro / nano-manufacturing automation. They were considered overkill for traditional industrial automation applications, but the need for miniaturization and higher precision is rapidly changing the situation. New high-speed fieldbus interfaces facilitate integration with PLC or CNC controllers.
White Papers
WHITE PAPER: ADVANCED ALGORITHMS ENABLE THROUGHPUT
Starting at wafer level, every silicon photonic chip needs to be tested. PI's Fast Multichannel Photonic Alignment (FMPA) controller algorithms were the breakthrough necessary for prober-industry leaders like FormFactor and MPI to deliver tools for fast and economical characterization and validation. For Silicon Photonics (SiPh) test and assembly applications such as wafer probing, alignment time is the primary cost driver. This is true for both engineering probers and even more so for production probers, where uptime and throughput are especially critical. With their advanced autonomous alignment functionality and fab-qualified mechanics, PI photonics alignment subsystems meet the demanding needs of the industry. Hence, they provide unmatched throughput and accuracy not restricted to silicon photonics probing, but including any type of precision optical alignment.
Press Releases
14 Angstroms: PI Contributes to Next Semiconductor Technology Node Development
PI's new nanopositioning technology advancement initiative supports EU-funded project.
Economical Fast Focus Scanning Systems for Microscopy and Metrology Applications
Packages with controller, software, and nano-focus scanner offer an excellent price-performance ratio - new from PI.
V-827 Wide-Body Linear Stage Family for Precision Automation
New direct-drive linear positioning stages provide 2m/sec velocity and 150kg load capacity, from PI.
See Live Demos of PI's Photonics / SiP / Fiber Alignment Technology at OFC in San Diego, Starting March 24
Experience high-speed alignment engines for the photonics and fiber optics industry, ideal for SiP wafer probing, device packaging and lens alignment, in PI's booth #4301.
Ultra-Low Profile XY-Theta Nanopositioning Stage Uses Air Bearings
Unique and compact 3-axis precision motion platform, new from PI
New Optical Delay Line Stage Series, Based on Air Bearings, Released by PI
Lower pitch/yaw angular errors and the near-perfect straightness and flatness performance of air bearings deliver precise measured results, surpassing mechanical linear stages.
Introduced at Photonics West: Breakthrough Technology Improves Photonic Coupling Acquisition Speed by One Order of Magnitude and More
New PI Photonics Alignment Solution a Game Changer for SiPh Production
Presenting the World's Fastest Photonics Alignment Systems for SiPh Chips at Photonics West
Experience high-speed alignment engines, a new way to improve laser micro-hole drilling, air bearing-based wafer stages, high-resolution focusing devices, and microscope stages at BIOS/Photonics West in San Francisco, Booths 8517 / 3517, January 27 - February 1, 2024.
Hexapod Production: PI Substantially Increases Production Capacities for High Precision Hexapod Stewart Platforms
Significantly reducing lead time and increasing potential output by more than 100% are results of PI's new initiative.
PI Establishes Innovation Hub to Strengthen Collaboration with Technical Research Institutes
This new R&D initiative will be expanded to office/laboratory clusters in the US and Asia.
