A DIY micro-manipulator hits 50nm steps with cheap stepper motors
Open MicroManipulator – A sub-micrometer 3D motion control plattform
This open-source XYZ micro-manipulator achieves sub-micrometer motion using off-the-shelf stepper motors, a 30 kHz closed-loop controller, and a magnetic gearing trick that multiplies encoder resolution 30-fold, reaching steps down to 50nm. Built on a parallel kinematic structure with miniature ball joints, it targets optical alignment, probing, and microscopy. It runs G-Code over USB serial, ships with a Python API and GUI, and is fully documented in FreeCAD and KiCAD for replication.
The absolute accuracy is significantly worse.
- RobotToaster
Reprap micron is doing something similar https://github.com/VikOlliver/RepRapMicron
- option_greek
This guy is a legend. His whole series on building this along with other videos is worth watching on YouTube. It amazes me how some random guy simply drops a sub um manipulator diy on YouTube and disappears into the ether. No promotions nothing.
- ikidd
I wonder how it compares to a deltabot, since those are often used for pick-and-place which requires pretty fine resolution. Seems like a delta would have way more range of motion than this.