Nanoindentation is derived from the classical hardness test but is carried out on a much smaller scale. It can be used to determine the hardness of thin layers as well as material properties such as elasticity, stiffness, plasticity, and tensile strength, or fracture toughness of small objects and microsystems in fields such as biotechnology. These measurements involve applying a small force to a sample using a sharp probe and measuring the resultant penetration depth. The measured value is used to calculate the contact area and hence the particular property of the sample material.

Auburn, MA - Piezo system specialist PI introduces a breakthrough development in nanopositioning stage control. The new E-709 provides digital functionality at the price-point of an analog controller, all in the volume of a paperback book! The true digital servo performance comes without compromise:
Features and Advantages

Flexure Actuators for Speed, Precision and Force

PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P. -- a leading manufacturer of piezo ceramic actuators and precision motion-control equipment for semiconductor, bio-medical and nanotechnology applications -- has released a new brochure on Lever Amplified Piezo Flexure Actuators.

The brochure presents a number of new applications along with a variety newly designed, low-cost flexure actuators for OEMs.

Traditional Piezo Systems Use

PI (Physik Instrumente) has published a digital flash catalog on Piezo Technology and Nanopositioning Products

The 560 page digital publication also contains extensive tutorials on piezo motion technology, the fundamentals of nanopositioning, micropositioning and nanometrology.
Nanopositioning / Piezo Technology Examples Covered in the Catalog: