Accurate, fast and convenient nanopositioning

Queensgate had released the NPC-D-5200; a digital controller for use with the company’s closed loop piezo actuators and stages. The controller incorporates a precision capacitive measurement circuit and is claimed to be updated with the stage position 120,000 times per second, delivering high positional accuracy at speed.

The NPC-D-5200 is said to have the capacity to address a range of demanding alignment and metrology applications. By employing proprietary low noise technology, stage position noise has been reduced so that in the majority of implementations it is just a few tens of pm.

The controller measures 268 x 194 x 70mm in volume and weighs 1.7kg. It incorporates RS232, USB 2.0 and Ethernet interfaces, so that connectivity options are not restricted and system flexibility is maximised and operates across a temperature range of10 to 40°C.