Microscope Stages for Super-Resolution Microscopy, Metrology, Material Science
Motorized, Piezoelectric & Voice-Coil Nanopositioning, and Manual Stage Options
A precision microscope stage is a crucial tool for both traditional and super-resolution microscopy. In super-resolution techniques, however, the stage’s role becomes even more critical due to the heightened accuracy, resolution, and repeatability requirements to capture ultra-high-resolution images.
PI offers a wide selection of microscope stages to support these demanding applications. These include high-resolution motorized microscope stages and piezo-driven nanopositioning stages, allowing multi-axis control with options for XY, XYZ, and Z-scanning to facilitate precise focusing and positioning adjustments.
Long Travel, Low Profile, Optimized for Microscopy
PInano® XY and XYZ low-profile piezo scanning stages are optimized for easy integration into high-resolution microscopes. They feature a very low profile of 20 mm (0.8") and a large aperture designed to hold Petri dishes and standard slide holders. The long travel ranges of up to 200 x 200 x 200 µm with nanometer closed-loop resolution are ideal for leading-edge microscopy and imaging applications.
Cost Effective Design, High Performance
PInano® series piezo positioning stages are available in two versions:
A) Highest Stability, Linearity and Precision with capacitive feedback sensors.
B) High Precision with lower cost piezoresistive sensor feedback.
Both types provide very high sensitivity and responsiveness as well as nanometer resolution. A proprietary servo controller significantly improves the motion linearity of the piezoresitive version compared to conventional piezoresistive sensor controllers.
High Reliability and Long Lifetime
The compact P-545 systems are equipped with preloaded PICMA® high-performance piezo actuators which are integrated into a sophisticated, FEA-modeled, flexure guiding system. The PICMA® actuators feature cofired ceramic encapsulation and provide better performance and reliability than conventional piezo actuators. Actuators, guidance and sensors are maintenance-free, not subject to wear and offer extraordinary reliability.
Recent papers citing the use of the PInano® P-545 stage
- Adaptive optics enables 3D STED microscopy in aberrating specimens
- DNA-doxorubicin interaction: new insights and peculiarities
- Mapping Impurity of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Bulk Samples with Multiplex Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Microscopy
- 2 nm Quantum Optical Lithography
- Systematic study and quantification of optical forces on porous silicon nanoparticles
- Plasmonic Nanopore for Electrical Profiling of Optical Intensity Landscapes
- Point spread function of the optical needle super-oscillatory lens
- Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscopy Resolves Nanoparticle Assembly on a Porous Membrane Surface
- Molecular imaging with surface-enhanced CARS on nanostructures
- Three-dimensional patterning in transparent materials with spatiotemporally focused femtosecond laser pulses
- Low Profile for Easy Integration: 20 mm (0.8")
- Up to 200 x 200 x 200 µm Travel Ranges
- Large Clear Aperture for 3 x 1" Slides
- Recessed Sample Holders for Maximized Utility Available
- Outstanding Lifetime Due to PICMA® Piezo Actuators
- Compatible w/ Leading Image Acquisition Software Package
- Closed-Loop Control for High Repeatability and Accuracy
- Millisecond Step Time, Ideal for Super-Resolution Microscopy
- High-Performance Digital Servo Controller w/ USB, Ethernet, RS-232 + Analog Input
- Available Long-Travel Stage
- Specifications Super Stability Version with Capacitive Feedback
- Specifications Low Cost, High Precision Version with PiezoResistive Feedback
PInano® Models
High Stability and Precision Stage
PInano® Cap XY(Z) Super Stability Piezo Stage
This version replaces the piezoresistive sensors of the original PInano® stage with direct-measuring capacitive sensors providing the for highest possible stability and linearity. Comes with upgraded USB controller equipped with high precision RF capacitive feedback circuitry.
Low Cost, High Precision Version
PInano® XY(Z) Super Stability Piezo Stage
This version replaces the piezoresistive sensors of the original PInano® stage with direct-measuring capacitive sensors providing the for highest possible stability and linearity. Comes with upgraded USB controller equipped with high precision RF capacitive feedback circuitry.
Fastest Response / Tracking Stage:
PInano® Trak XY(Z) High Speed Piezo Stage for Particle Tracking
This version is based on an internal direct drive mechanism to provide a stiffer and faster responding stage featuring 70x70x50µm travel. It comes with a high power driver with analog input.
Single Axis (X, Y) Stage:
P-546 PInano® X, Y lowest profile stage
This version is available in X, Y and also XY. It comes comlete with a controller and features a very low profile of only 17 mm.
P-736 PInano® Z, Scanner for SR-Microscopy
Low-Profile, Low-Cost, Nanopositioning System for Super Resolution Microscopy
High-Speed, Low Profile, Optimized for Microscopy
The new PInano® Z low-profile piezo Z stages are optimized for very fast step and settle and easy integration into high-resolution microscope applications. They feature a very low profile of 0.8" (20 mm), a large aperture, and travel ranges of up to 200 µm with sub-nanometer closed-loop resolution–ideal for leading-edge microscopy and imaging applications. Longest lifetime is guaranteed by the integrated ceramic-encapsulated PICMA® piezo actuators. Due to the significantly higher humidity resistance, the patented PICMA® design provides up to 10 times longer life than conventional piezo actuators (latest test results are here).
Large Aperture Version for Well Plates
A special version for well plates is also available.
Cost Effective Design, High Performance
PInano® series piezo positioning stages are available in two versions: a) Highest Stability, Linearity and Precision with capacitive feedback sensors. b) High Precision with lower cost piezoresistive sensor feedback. Both types provide very high sensitivity and responsiveness as well as nanometer resolution. A proprietary servo controller significantly improves the motion linearity of the piezoresitive version compared to conventional piezoresistive sensor controllers.
Excellent Guiding Accuracy
Flexures optimized with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) are used to guide the stage. FEA techniques are used to give the design the highest possible stiffness in, and perpendicular to, the direction of motion, and to minimize linear and angular runout. Flexures allow extremely high-precision motion, no matter how minute, as they are completely free of play and friction.
Controller & Software Included
The PInano® Z stage comes complete with a powerful digital closed-loop controller. The controller features two digital interfaces (USB & RS-232) as well as a high-speed analog interface and is compatible with leading image acquisition software packages such as MetaMorph etc. The controllers are delivered including software for Windows operating systems. DLLs and LabVIEW drivers are available for automated control. The extensive command set is based on the hardware-independent General Command Set (GCS), which is common to all current PI controllers for both nano- and micropositioning systems. GCS reduces the programming effort in the face of complex multi-axis positioning tasks or when upgrading a system with a different PI controller.
- Extremely Fast Step & Settle, From 5 msec
- Low Profile for Easy Integration: 20 mm (0.8")
- 100 and 200 µm Travel Ranges Proprietary Technology: Outstanding Lifetime Due to PICMA® Piezo Ceramic Stacks
- Cost-Effective Design due to Piezoresistive Sensors
- Compatible w/ Leading Image Acquisition Software Package
- Closed-Loop Control for High Repeatability and Accuracy USB Controller & Software Included
- Specifications and Order Info
Open-Frame Microscope Stage Long-Range Motion for Sample Positioning, Motorized and Manual
U-781 Motorized Microscope Stage with Ultrasonic Motors, Optional Piezo-Z Scanner
Space Saving Piezomotors
Compared to conventional motorized translation stages, the PI ultrasonic motor stages provide a lower profile and smaller footprint. The compact PILine® ultrasonic piezoelectric linear motors and linear encoders make both, the lead screw duct and the flanged, bulky stepper motors employed in traditional stages obsolete. In addition, the piezomotors are self-locking at rest and hold the stage in a stable position without generating heat.
Piezomotor microscope stages are mainly designed for automated positioning applications in microscopy. The low profile height of only 30 mm allows easy integration. The mounting pattern is compatible with many PI piezo nanopositioning stages.
M-545 Manual XY Microscopy Stage
- Millisecond Step Time, ideal for Super-Resolution Microscopy
- High-Performance Digital Servo Controller with USB, Ethernet, RS-232 + Analog Input
- Available Long-Travel Stage
- Scanning Microscope Stage Specifications Super Stability Version with Capacitive Feedback
- Scanning Microscope Stage Specifications Low Cost, High Precision Version with PiezoResistive Feedback
- Closed-Loop Linear Piezomotors for Smooth Low/High Speed Motion
- 128x86mm Travel Range
- 0.1µm Resolution, Highest Stability
- Low Profile Design
- For Inverted Microscopes
- Self-Locking at Rest, with no Servo Dither
- Compatible with PI Piezo Scanners
- Data Sheet, Specifications & Drawings
- Low Profile for Easy Integration: 20 mm (0.8")
- Stable Platform for P-545 PInano® Piezo
Nanopositioning Systems - Low Profile for Easy Integration:
30 mm 25 mm x 25 mm - Travel Range Micrometer Screws
- For Nikon, Zeiss, Leica and Olympus Microscopes
- Specifications and Order Info
The M-545, 25 x 25 mm microscope stage, is designed to provide a stable platform for piezo scanning stages of the P-545 PInano® series. These high-speed, high-resolution XY / XYZ piezo stages allow nanometer-precision adjustment of the specimen holder in up to three dimensions over 200 µm. The M-545 is also compatible with the following capacitive-feedback type piezo stages: P-733, P-5x7, P-5x8, P-54x and P-56x. The basic M-545 model is equipped with manual micrometers.
- Digital Servo for Advanced Control Algorithms
- Faster Settling, Better Linearity than Analog Servos
- 25 kHz Control Bandwidth
- For Capacitive and Piezo-restive Strain Gauge Feedback Sensors
- High Resolution Analog Control Inputs and Outputs
- Digital Interfaces: Ethernet, USB, and RS-232
- Digital I/O Lines for Triggering
- 20-bit DAC and ADC Resolution
- ID Chip Compatible for Interchangeability of Controller and Mechanics
- 4th Order Polynomial Linearization for Mechanics & Electronics
- Specifications and Order Info
