Driving Principle

SmarAct positioners use the stick-slip principle to perform fine steps down to 50 nm (step mode). Moreover, with a slow elongation of the piezo element the slide can be moved with sub-nanometer resolution within a range of about 1.4 µm by default and up to several µm on request (scan mode).

Due to the driving principle SmarAct positioners have some advantages compared to standard positioners like stepper motors:

• High resolution positioning
  SmarAct positioners can move with sub-nm resolution. During closed-loop control the resolution is about 1 nm.
• Extreme miniaturisation
  The SLC-1720-S is the smallest closed-loop nanopositioner available: dimensions 17 x 22 x 8.5 mm³.
• Backlash-free positioning
  The positioner responds directly on a control input since no gears are applied.
• Crash-tolerant
  Moving the positioner to a mechanical end-stop or obstacle does not damage the positioner.