PI Expands Bi-Phase Piezo Motor Tech for Precision Motion

The BIX architecture relies on two synchronized PICMA multilayer piezo actuators that operate in tandem; as one expands, the other contracts. This mirrored sawtooth signaling counters the hysteresis and acceleration limitations found in conventional single-actuator designs. The result is a compact footprint capable of 10 nm resolution, currently utilized in the B-421 series with travel ranges between 13 and 33 mm.

New iterations of the drive principle address specific mechanical demands. A high-force variant utilizes a two-sided stator to double drive force, while micrometer screw drives minimize friction losses by converting microscopic actuator motion into rotation. PI has also integrated four piezo stacks into a lever structure for 2D tip/tilt mirror platforms and adapted the core technology for cryogenic environments. These developments provide OEM manufacturers with a flexible toolkit for photonics, semiconductor instrumentation, and laser alignment where space and mechanical complexity typically hinder standard motorized stages.