Standard Hexapod 6-Axis Stages / Stewart Platforms
PI hexapod positioning systems provide precision motion in six degrees of freedom for alignment, positioning, simulation, metrology, photonics, aerospace, vacuum, and industrial automation applications. These parallel-kinematic 6-axis stages combine compact mechanics, flexible pivot-point control, precision motion controllers, and application software for high-accuracy motion from miniature positioning systems to high-load Stewart platforms.
Precision 6-Axis Motion Platforms
Hexapods, also called Stewart platforms or Stewart-Gough platforms, provide coordinated X, Y, Z, pitch, roll, and yaw motion from a compact parallel-kinematic structure. Compared with stacked serial stages, hexapods can offer a smaller mechanical envelope, no moving cables, high stiffness, flexible coordinate transformation, and a user-defined pivot point.
PI offers electro-mechanical and piezo-motor hexapod systems for loads from small optics and fiber assemblies to large industrial payloads. Many systems are self-locking when powered off, and selected models are available with absolute encoders, vacuum-compatible designs, and advanced alignment software.
H-855 High-Load Hexapod Robot / 6-DOF Positioning Platform
- Up to 500 kg load capacity, depending on version
- Operation in any orientation possible
- 6-DOF motion platform
- Up to 200 mm linear motion and 70° rotary motion
- High-resolution actuators
- Randomized / programmable pivot point
- Available 6-axis motion controller with motion and alignment software
H-850 High-Force Hexapod Platform / 6-Axis Parallel Robot
- Up to 250 kg load capacity
- 20,000 h MTBF
- Works in any orientation
- 6-DOF motion
- No moving cables
- High-load, ultra-low-friction bearings
- Actuator resolution to 0.005 microns
- Vacuum-compatible versions
- Randomized / programmable pivot point
- Available 6-axis motion controller with motion and alignment software
H-815 Compact Industrial Hexapod 6-DOF Alignment System
- Robust high-precision hexapod for 24/7 alignment applications
- 10 kg load capacity
- Minimum incremental motion to 0.05 µm
- Repeatability up to ±0.05 µm
- Velocity to 20 mm/sec
- Diameter: 222 mm; height: 155 mm
- XY travel: 40 mm; Z travel: 20 mm
- Rotations: Z: 32°; X and Y: 18°
H-811 Miniature Hexapod 6-DOF Platform
- Miniature high-precision hexapod micro-robot
- 5 kg load capacity
- Actuator resolution 0.05 µm
- Repeatability up to ±0.5 µm
- Velocity to 20 mm/sec
- Diameter: 130 mm; height: 115 mm
- XY travel: 35 mm; Z travel: 13 mm
- Rotations: Z: 40°; X and Y: 20°
H-810 Miniature 6-Axis Hexapod Platform Positioning Micro-Robot
- Small PI standard hexapod with travel to 40 x 40 x 13 mm and rotations to 60°
- 5 kg load capacity
- Actuator resolution 40 nm
- Minimum incremental motion to 200 nm
- Repeatability up to ±0.5 microns
- Velocity to 10 mm/sec
H-824 / H-825 Hexapod 6-Axis Platform Positioning System with Vacuum Option
- Folded actuators for lower profile
- Vacuum-compatible versions
- Load capacity to 10kg/30kg
- Travel ranges to 55mm and 38°
- 7nm actuator resolution
- 300nm minimum incremental motion
- Repeatability ±0.5 microns
- Self-locking to 10kg/30kg
- 6-axis motion controller with LabVIEW drivers and DLL libraries
H-840 Fast Six-Axis Stewart Platform Hexapod
- 6-DOF motion
- Minimum incremental motion up to 20 nanometers
- Available 6-axis motion controller using vector algorithms
- No moving cables
- Up to 30 kg load capacity
- Repeatability up to ± 0.1 microns
- Smaller and stiffer than conventional 4-, 5-, 6-axis stacked stages
- Vacuum-compatible versions
- Virtualized pivot point
- 20,000 h MTBF
H-860 High-Speed Shaker Hexapod for Motion Simulation
- For image stabilization algorithm testing
- Velocity to 250mm/sec
- High Dynamics and tracking accuracy
- Motion ranges 15mm / 8°
- Direct drive with 6 voice coil motors
- 1 kg load capacity
- Wear-free flexure joints
H-206 Six-Axis Fiber Aligner / NanoManipulator / Parallel Micro-Robot
- Ultra-precision fiber alignment system
- Available 6-axis motion controller with LabVIEW drivers and DLL libraries
- Integrated fiber alignment routines
- 33 nm actuator resolution
- Repeatability 0.3 microns
- No moving cables for improved reliability and reduced friction
- Cartesian coordinate control with virtualized pivot point
PI Hexapod Leadership
PI is the world leader in high accuracy Hexapod positioning systems (6-DOF Stewart motion platforms). PI's core business is ultra-high-precision motion control. With more than 1900 employees in 15 countries around the world, and over 30 years of hexapod 6-axis robot positioning system design experience (mechanics, motion controller and software), PI can provide a solution for your next precision motion project quickly. PI recently acquired a number of motion and positioning companies and can also offer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 axis stages, if 6-axis motion is not required. Examples are multi-axis motion and positioning systems with linear motors, air bearings and industrial EtherCat-based motion controllers. PI's electro-mechanical and piezo-motor Hexapod robot (Stewart-Gough) platforms have many advantages over hydraulic hexapods. They are smaller, more energy efficeint, offer much higher precision and most are self locking on power-off. The latest models provide absolute position encoders for added speed and security after power up. PI hexapod 6-axis robots are available in many sizes, configurations for loads from 0.2kg to more than 1000kg.See Additional Hexapod Models
More Parallel-Kinematic 6-Axis Systems
PI miCos custom SpaceFAB parallel-kinematic positioning concepts provide flexible arrangements, long linear travel ranges, multiple drive and motor options, and ultra-high-vacuum versions.
More vacuum positioning stages and actuators from PI
