THE USE of integrated miniaturised ceramic linear drives makes the M-687 stage more compact and stable than traditional computer controllable microscope stages, says PI.
M687 stage from PI promises more stability for long microscope exposures
The self-locking piezo linear motors and high resolution linear encoders deliver up to ten times the stability of conventional alternatives, it says.
This stability is achieved because no energy is consumed to hold position, there are no leadscrews to heat up and cool down, and no creep from lubricant flow in the drive mechanism.
As a result, long-exposure imaging is greatly enhanced.
The linear encoders deliver 100nm resolution in stage positioning.
The M-687 is delivered as complete with a controller, joystick, and software, and can be enhanced with a range of accessories. These include holders for slides, petri dishes, and multi-well plates. High-speed piezo-Z nanopositioning stages for 3D microscopy, image stack acquisition, or fast auto-focus are also available, as are XYZ nanopositioning flexure stages for Super-Resolution (SR) microscopy.
The low-profile self-clamping ceramic/ceramic linear motors are more compact than electromagnetic motors, and provide a highly uniform constant velocity even at low speeds says PI. Transit speeds up to 120mm/sec can be achieved, and total movement range is up to 135 x 85mm
Versions are available for Olympus IX2 and Nikon Eclipse Ti inverted microscopes.