The new E-861 controller was designed for the simple setup and automation of NEXACT^® piezo stepping linear motors. The E-861's core is based on the third generation Mercury™ controller series which stands out for its high performance, simple operation and low price.

Running piezo stepping drives is more complex than driving classical DC motors. The stepping motions of the multiple piezo actuators integrated in the NEXACT^® modules are coordinated by a DSP (digital signal processor) and, using a special algorithm, output through a sophisticated amplifier front-end.

The E-861 provides open and closed-loop modes. For closed-loop operation, a high-resolution linear encoder input is provided, backed up by the required DSP processing power. For open-loop-operation, step size, count and frequency can be set by software. Velocity of 10 mm/s and more with nanometer resolution are obtained.

Multi-Axis Operation
Up to 16 E-861 controllers can be networked and controlled over a single PC interface. Such daisy chain networks are flexible, can be extended at any time and are compatible with other PI controllers (e.g. DC servo-motor and stepper motor controllers).

NEXACT^® Stepping Drive Technology (PiezoWalk^®)
The patented NEXACT^® PiezoWalk^® stepping drives are distinguished by high speed, long travel ranges, and high force generation of more than 10 N combined with compact size. These stepping drives feature a highly stable autolock mode with a holding force actually higher than the drive force. This means that once a target position is reached, the servo-loop is quiescent, eliminating holding currents and servo dither which could contribute to heat generation and drift. Additional features include:

• Position Resolution in the Sub-Nanometer Range
• Analog mode provides up to 7 µm of smooth, high-dynamics motion at any position , e.g. for fast scanning or active vibration compensation.

The E-861 NEXACT^® controller incorporates the same core as the Mercury™ series (C-863 and C-663), as will the forthcoming C-867 PILine^® ultrasonic piezomotor controller. Of course, all Mercury™ based-controllers can be networked and controlled with the same command structure.

Datasheets & Additional Information

>> E-861 Online Datasheet
>> E-861 PDF Datasheet

>> N-310 Online Datasheet
>> Linear Actuators for Precision Motion Control (PDF Catalog)