Nov 7 2007
PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P. -- the inventor of high-speed Piezo-Z objective steppers--introduces the new P-737 PIFOC® Piezo-Z Stage, the highest performance nanopositioning Z control system on the market.
P-737 PIFOC® High-Speed Z Stage for 3-D microscopy (shown with a 96-well plate and compact controller) speeds up Z-stack image acquisition.
The P-737 specimen Z-stage is a new member in a large family of products for microscope automation. Specifically designed for biotech research microscopes utilizing deconvolution and 3D imaging techniques, the P-737 PIFOC® specimen Z-stage features up to 250 µm travel, millisecond responsiveness and nanometer precise motion under closed-loop control.
Piezo Z-Stages and Objective Steppers
The P-737 PIFOC stage is an addition to the extremely successful PIFOC® brand of high-speed piezo objective Z-steppers. While no sample stage can beat the speed of the fastest PIFOC® objective positioners (due to the stiffer, more compact design), the P-737 PIFOC® stage allows for millisecond sample settling enabling convenient Z-stack imaging with multiple objectives and very high throughput.
Piezo Z-Stages vs. Conventional Stepper Focus Drives
The fast response of the P-737 fully utilizes the high throughput of the latest digital imaging systems and achieves 10 to 50 times faster response than conventional stepper motor focus drives.
The P-737 PIFOC® stage is available with a number of analog and highly sophisticated digital piezo controllers and can be controlled through digital interfaces as well as by fast analog signals through a high-speed 0-10V input. The system is fully compatible with all leading imaging acquisition packages. For ease of integration, a comprehensive set of LabView™ drivers is included, even for the analog control option.
Application Examples
3D imaging, Z-stack acquisition, autofocusing, scanning and alignment tasks in microscopy, biotechnology.
Features & Advantages
- Choice of Travel Ranges: 100 µm or 250 µm
- Choice of Controllers: Digital, Analog w/ Display or Compact Controller
- Custom Tuning for Highest Speed (few Milliseconds per Step)
- Compatible w/ all Major Image Acquisition Packages
- Closed-Loop for Nanometer Precise Motion Control