ALIO aims to improve precision motion control technology with Hybrid Hexapod

ALIO Industries, a subsidiary of Allient, shows its precision motion control technology through the patented Hybrid Hexapod.

The system has a 6D motion for applications requiring extreme flatness, straightness, and stiffness in motion, essential for machining and bonding applications. 

The Hybrid Hexapod offers documented proof of nanometer-level performance across all six degrees of freedom (6DOF). 

Bill Hennessey, president at ALIO said: "The Hybrid Hexapod allows for performance validation over all 6DOF at a level of precision that was previously inconceivable. The technology is now empowering industry giants in optics, semiconductors, manufacturing, metrology, laser processing, and micromachining sectors, leading to achievements that were once thought unattainable."

By integrating a tripod parallel kinematics structure for Z plane and tip/tilt motion with a monolithic serial kinematic structure for XY motion, and a rotary stage for continuous 360-degree yaw rotation, it is designed to have high-integrity motion with nanometer-level precision. 

As Hennessey explains: "Hexapods with six independently controlled links have their motion errors tied to the inaccuracies of each link and joint. The Hybrid Hexapod uniquely mitigates this, ensuring optimal accuracy even when performing complex, multi-axis movements. This innovation is particularly pivotal for applications like the production of 4K lenses, where absolute precision is non-negotiable. The Hybrid Hexapod assures exact alignment and repeatability, a critical factor in industries where the margin for error is virtually zero.

"It’s not just about being 100 times stiffer, 30 times faster, or having 10 times the work envelope compared to standard options; it’s about reimagining what's possible."