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PI is a leading manufacturer of precision motion control and automation systems, hexapod 6-axis parallel robotic stages, air bearing motion systems, Gantry Systems, 3D printing, laser machining, and piezoelectric nano-positioning solutions. Applications include photonics, semiconductor technology, medical engineering, assembly, inspection, materials handling, and bio-nanotechnology. PI has been developing and manufacturing standard & custom precision products with piezoceramic and electromagneti
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Why Motion Control is Critical for Photonics and Optics Innovation
POSTED 08/01/2023
Motion control plays a critical role in photonics innovation due to the precise alignment and positioning requirements of photonic devices.
Webinar: Three essential themes for photonics innovation: It's not just about the data centers anymore: What's needed for pregress is Automation, Innovation, Cooperation.
Five reasons why motion control is critical for photonics innovation:
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Precision Alignment: Photonic devices rely on the manipulation and transmission of light, which necessitates extremely accurate alignment. Even minute errors can dramatically affect a device's performance. Advanced motion control systems are therefore needed to achieve the high levels of precision necessary.
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Scalability: As photonics technology advances and devices become smaller and more complex, the need for precise, repeatable, and scalable motion control becomes even more crucial. High-volume manufacturing of photonic components requires automated motion control systems that can quickly and accurately align components at the micron or nanometer scale.
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Test and Assembly: Active alignment, where optical components are moved and aligned in real-time during the testing phase, requires precise motion control. Inefficient or inaccurate alignment can lead to poor device performance and higher manufacturing costs.
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Multifunctionality: In the realm of photonics, devices are frequently required to perform multiple functions. For example, a single photonic chip might be responsible for a range of tasks from sensing to data processing. As such, the ability to control motion across multiple degrees of freedom is crucial to ensure these devices function as intended.
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Advancement of Technologies: In some of the most cutting-edge applications of photonics, such as quantum computing or advanced LIDAR, motion control allows for the fine-tuning necessary to develop and advance these technologies.
Video: Advanced motion control for photonics alignment
The continued development of motion control technologies contributes significantly to the ongoing innovation in fiber optics and photonics related applications, enabling more precise, scalable, and efficient devices.