PI (Physik Instrumente) LP is offering a new motion controller for closed-loop precision positioning systems.
The C-884, 4-axis digital servo controller was designed to control motorized linear translation stages and rotary positioners with very high accuracy and repeatability.  The high-speed encoder interface allows the use of the latest direct-metrology linear and angular scales with resolutions down to the nanometer and microrad realm and below.

PI’s new controller is equipped with a dual-core architecture for fast servo handling and command interpretation. A wealth of software tools are provided for ease of operation. The included PIMikroMove software helps the user to get up to speed quickly, without the need for writing a single line of code. For programmers PI’s General Command Set (GCS) simplifies the development of custom applications significantly reducing the risk for errors, because the commands for all supported PI devices are identical in syntax and function. Through the use of the GCS command set with its convenient functions, the orientation phase and application development process is vastly accelerated. The GCS commands are available at the controller terminal, in macros and in the form of a universal driver set for LabVIEW (VIs), Windows dynamic link libraries (DLL) and Linux libraries.

Other useful functions for programmers and users as well are the data recorder (real-time recording or motor voltage, velocity, actual position and position errors, etc) and the stand-alone capability which is made possible by means of a computer-independent macro programming language that runs on the controller.
This new servo positioning controller supports several motion profiles, linear vector motion, point-to-point motion. PID parameters can be changed on the fly, the servo update rate is 20 kHz. Communication is through industry standard TCP/IP, USB and RS-232 interfaces.