Picard’s XYZ-Stage system offers a compact, efficient and simple method of remotely positioning a 2-Kg load in three dimensions. Each linear axis has 25 mm of range with 0.75 um incremental step motion. The Stage provides a USB-powered method of positional control unmatched in size, simplicity, and cost. The system comes complete with custom application software that operates on any standard PC with WindowsXP (or higher) with a USB 2.0 port.

A wireless USB Space Mouse is provided with this stage for manual control. It allows you to remotely position the stage with a single hand without losing sight of your load. This is very useful for inspection type applications.

• USB controlled 3-Dimensional Linear Stage for moving up to 2.0 Kg loads.
• Three axis linear stage with 25 mm of travel of each X, Y, and Z axis.
• Each stepper motor based linear actuator has 0.75 um full steps.
• Mounts on standard optical tables with M6 screws on 25 mm centers.
• Low USB powered motors are energized only when moving.
• Built-in magnetic Home sensors for detecting the fully retracted position.
• USB hot pluggable with auto-detection of actuators.
• Includes wireless 3D-Space Mouse.
• Easy to use Windows (XP and higher) based User Interface software, LabView examples and a DLL file included for integrating control into your own application.

USB XYZ Stage Software

After the software has been successfully loaded, simply click the XYZ Stage icon on the desktop. The software will auto-detect the connections and display the Status of each axis and if properly connected, allow you to begin controlling the Stage with the User Interface or the Space Mouse.

To be properly connected, the 4-port USB Hub will need to be connected to an AC power source and its USB cable connected to the PC’s USB port. The serial numbers and other motor operating parameters may need to be entered. This is accomplished by clicking the “Settings” button. Upon a successful initial connection the linear (X, Y, and Z) motors should be Homed by clicking the “All Home” button, after which they can be moved to the desired positions.

Further Details

• Data Sheet
• CAD Model
• Software Download

Cost: $3,895 each, plus shipping and handling.

Contact us below for orders, queries, quantity discounts or custom applications of this device.

The Mini Hexapod Platform (MHP) system is a relatively low cost kinematics platform that allows motion with six-degrees of freedom. These motions are in the X, Y, and Z direction, with rotations about those axes. Six linear actuators are placed in a triangular pattern to achieve a rigid, stable, and precise movement while carrying a load. With its dedicated drive electronics and Windows user interface, the control of the platform’s motions is simplified for ease of use.

If your application requires slow precise point to point motions with 0.001 millimeter repeatability, then you do not need the more expensive platforms on the market. The Mini Hexapod Platform system may be the answer you have been looking for.

System Basics

The Mini Hexapod Platform (also known as a Stewart Platform) system consists of a six actuator (Hex) movable Platform, an actuator Controller, Power supply, Cables, and a Windows based (user supplied) PC with a USB port. The actuators are commanded to move the platform by the User with the PC through its USB port. The User’s Cartesian coordinate move commands are transformed into commands for moving each of the six actuators using the Actuator Controller. Status and positional information of each of the actuators is also provided to the PC from the controller.

Customization

Picard Industries specializes in custom application and design of the MHP system. Many different sizes of linear actuators are available to fit your requirements.

Contact us with your requirements and we’ll be happy to help.

Mini Hexapod Platform Software

• Six-Dimensional (6D) motion control.
• X, Y, Z, with rotations Rx, Ry, Rz.
• Simple Cartesian coordinate entry.
• Definable Positions with memory.
• Re-Definable coordinate references.
• English or Metric units.
• PC Windows based, allows multiple MHP systems to run concurrently.

Manage Coordinate Systems

The left side of this dialog shows all of the coordinate systems in a tree view, with each coordinate system listed under its reference. Click on the triangle to the left of a coordinate system to expand or collapse the coordinate systems for which it is the reference. The right side of the dialog shows the definition of the currently selected coordinate system. Click on a coordinate system in the tree view (left side) to show its definition in the right side. The definition contains a pull-down for the reference coordinate system and edit boxes for the 6 numbers used to define the transformation for this coordinate system. This transformation describes the location and orientation of the current coordinate system in relation to its reference coordinate system.

Manage Positions

The left side of this dialog shows all of the defined positions in a list. Each listed position is stored with reference to a coordinate system. Select a position by clicking on its name. The right side of the dialog shows the values that define the position and its selected reference coordinate system. New positions can be defined or edited with the click buttons in the upper left of the dialog. Descriptions of defined position and its use can be stored in a text box in the lower right of the dialog.

Further Details

• Spec Sheet
• Hardware Data
• Software Data
• Software API
• Mechanical Layout
• CAD Model
• Software Download

Cost: $18,860 each, plus shipping and handling.

Contact us below for orders, queries, quantity discounts or custom applications of this device.

The USB 4D-Stage is a motorized precision motion control system used with the OpenSpim system. It is powered and controlled solely with USB ports. This system provides the method of automated control unmatched in size, simplicity, and ease of use. The USB 4D-Stage application software runs on any standard PC with Windows-XP (or higher) with a USB 2.0 port. This user interface provides for velocity (step speed), and positional (step) control. All linear position movements are relative to the home (fully retracted) position. A built-in magnetic (Hall) sensor is used to establish this home position.

• Compact four dimensional (X, Y, Z, R) Stage.
• Draws power from a standard USB port with use of a externally powered USB 4-port Hub.
• Fully self-contained miniature (Size-8) stepper motors, with integrated control electronics.
• Linear (X, Y, Z) range of about 9 mm (~0.35”).
• Linear slides have friction locks for transport.
• Positional resolution of 1.5 microns (0.00006”).
• Rotational resolution of 200 step/rev (1.8 deg).
• Includes Sample-Arm with pulleys and belt to hold and rotate the Sample-Tube.
• Power efficient, holds position with no power.
• Built-in magnetic (Hall effect) home sensor on the linear (X, Y, and Z) motors.
• PC Windows based user interface included for easy “out of the box” motion control.
• Dynamic Linkable Library (DLL) included for custom automated application.

USB 4D Software

The software operates on any standard PC with a Windows-XP (or higher) operating system that has a USB port. After the software has been successfully loaded, simply click the 4D-Stage icon on the desktop. The software will auto-detect the connections and display the Status of each axis and if properly connected, allow you to begin controlling the position of the Sample-Arm immediately.

To be properly connected, the 4-port USB Hub will need to be connected to an AC power source and its USB cable connected to the PC’s USB port. The serial numbers and other motor operating parameters may need to be entered. This is accomplished by clicking the “Change Parameter” button. Upon a successful initial connection the linear (X, Y, and Z) motor should be Homed by clicking the “All Home” button, after which they can be moved to the desired positions.

The Parameter screen is used to set each of the motor’s serial numbers so that the application knows which motor to control for each axis. Other motor control parameters like speed and jog distance are also set in this screen. Once set, they will be saved and will remain even after closing and reopening the application.

Further Details

• Data Sheet
• CAD Model
• Software Download
• R-Axis Upgrade Kit

Cost: $5,785 each, plus shipping and handling.

Contact us for any questions, orders, quantity discounts or custom applications of this device.

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