SHREWSBURY, Mass., May 19, 2026 — Physik Instrumente (PI), a global leader in precision motion control and nanopositioning systems, introduces the F-572 High-Performance 3- to 6-Axis fiber-alignment stage and controller, designed for high-throughput active alignment applications in photonics manufacturing and test.
The modular alignment system combines precision goniometers, linear nanopositioning stages, magnetic direct-drive technology, high-resolution optical encoder feedback and a preconfigured ACS-based alignment controller. It provides a compact, industrial-ready platform for demanding photonics applications with payloads to 2kg, including advanced packaging, LiDAR and multichip-level testing.
A user-adjustable magnetic counterbalance on the Z-axis keeps motor currents and heat to a minimum.
The F-572 offers linear travel ranges of 60mm in X, Y and Z, while three precision goniometers with a common pivot point provide rotation ranges up to 17°. High-speed magnetic direct drives enable linear velocities up to 500mm/s, and the goniometers support angular velocities up to 10°/s. Minimum incremental motion is 5nm and 5µrad for linear and angular motion, respectively, with bidirectional repeatability of 150nm and 25µrad.
Embedded Fast Multi-Channel Alignment (FMPA) routines for rapid area scans and gradient searches help reduce alignment times and increase manufacturing throughput. The included alignment controller features TCP/IP and EtherCAT interfaces, advanced specific alignment routines and user-friendly software. PI's optional ultrafast PILightning algorithm is available for accelerated first-light search applications. The F-572's modular architecture is an alternative to the integrated alignment systems based on hexapod positioning system platforms.
