The Hexapod Buyers Guide: How to Choose the Right Symetrie Platform
Axiom Optics partners with Symetrie to offer hexapod solutions, also called Stewart platforms. The Symetrie catalog spans more than 15 models, several with up to 4 variations, plus a long list of options covering environmental compatibility, additional degrees of freedom, and design modifications. That depth makes Axiom Optics and Symetrie ideal partners for high-end positioning and motion projects, but it can also make it hard to zero in on the best fit. This guide walks through the six questions that narrow the field, with interactive tools along the way.
Hexapod Finder: Narrow the Symetrie Catalog in Three Clicks
Select what matters for the application and the list below updates instantly. Every recommendation links to the full product page. When in doubt, the Axiom Optics team can confirm the shortlist and run simulations for the exact payload and trajectory.
1. Positioning Hexapod or Motion Hexapod?
The first question to answer is whether the application calls for a positioning hexapod or a motion hexapod. The Symetrie range splits cleanly into these two families, and nearly every downstream decision follows from this one.
Positioning hexapods: hold a point in space, exactly
Positioning hexapods serve applications that demand very fine resolution, repeatability, and accuracy, usually with the requirement to hold the pose once the payload reaches the right position and orientation. Most models in this family resolve below one micron, in some cases down to 0.1 µm or finer, at the cost of modest speed and acceleration. These platforms are very stiff, and most are mechanically irreversible: they will not flinch an inch, or a thousandth of an inch, even when powered off. The SOLANO is the one exception to that irreversibility rule. Control runs through the SYM_Positioning GUI or its API, typically point to point.
Motion hexapods: simulate complex, continuous movement
Motion hexapods, also called dynamic hexapods, serve applications that need high dynamic performance, for instance simulating a complex continuous motion like sea-state simulation. Expect speeds of hundreds to thousands of mm/s and tens to hundreds of degrees per second, with acceleration up to 1 g. The tradeoff is resolution, repeatability, and accuracy that sit one to two orders of magnitude below the positioning family. Control runs through the SYM_Motion GUI or its API, typically in trajectory mode with 6 DoF commands sampled at 100 Hz.
Both families, as they appear in the Symetrie catalog:
| Specification | Positioning | Motion |
|---|---|---|
| Linear / angular resolution | 0.1 µm to 5 µm 0.5 µrad to 10 µrad | 5 µm to 20 µm 15 µrad to 35 µrad |
| Linear / angular repeatability | ±0.25 µm to ±3 µm ±0.5 µrad to ±15 µrad | ±25 µm to ±100 µm ±85 µrad to ±170 µrad |
| Linear / angular speed | 0.4 mm/s to 30 mm/s 0.05°/s to 20°/s | 120 mm/s to 2,000 mm/s 50°/s to 200°/s |
| Linear / angular acceleration | N/A | 800 mm/s² to 10,000 mm/s² 200°/s² to 2,000°/s² |
| SYM_Positioning GUI | YES | NO (but not needed) |
| SYM_Motion GUI | POSSIBLY | YES |
Two hybrid scenarios worth knowing about
There are two non-intuitive cases where a hybrid solution makes sense:
- Positioning precision with motion controls. Some projects need the resolution, repeatability, and accuracy of a positioning hexapod, but with the control features of a motion hexapod, such as trajectory control or real-time operation. In this case Symetrie can build a positioning hexapod made compatible with the SYM_Motion GUI and API, so mention it to the Axiom Optics team early in the discussion.
- Motion dynamics with fine precision. Other projects clearly need a dynamic motion hexapod for the speed, the acceleration, or the SYM_Motion control features (trajectory, UDP, ERTT), but also need fine resolution and repeatability. Keep in mind that Symetrie only builds high-end platforms: even the least accurate motion hexapod still delivers 20 µm resolution, ±100 µm repeatability, and sub-millimeter, sub-degree static positioning accuracy. Axiom Optics can provide accuracy, resolution, and repeatability data for any motion model.
2. Payload Capacity
The second question is the payload rating required for the application. Every hexapod carries a maximum payload rating, and it means something specific:
- For positioning hexapods, the rating is the maximum mass that can be mounted while still achieving the full travel range, for a center of gravity (CoG) located at {0;0;0}, meaning centered at the surface of the mobile platform. Below that rating, every performance figure holds: resolution, repeatability, accuracy, stability, and the powered-off irreversibility.
- For motion hexapods, the rating is the maximum mass that still allows full travel range at maximum speed and acceleration, again for a CoG at {0;0;0}. All specs in the brochure and user manual are maintained as long as the payload stays under the rating.
Rated payload across the standard range
The interactive chart below summarizes the payload capacity of the standard, off-the-shelf Symetrie catalog. Values are valid for a hexapod mounted in the standard vertical upright orientation with the payload CoG at {0;0;0}. Toggle between families to compare.
Bar lengths use a square-root scale so small and large platforms remain readable side by side. Hexapod ratings shown are for vertical upright mounting, CoG at {0;0;0}.
Symetrie’s own payload charts for the same catalog, for reference:
How orientation changes the rating
Orientation directly impacts how much payload the hexapod can carry while still meeting its rated specs. The standard orientation is vertical upright, and mounting vertically upside-down makes no difference to the rating. The largest impact comes from mounting the hexapod at 90 degrees, in the horizontal orientation: the payload weight is then shared across 3 actuators instead of 6, so the rule of thumb is that the rating drops to about half of its vertical value. Any angle in between lands somewhere between those two figures, although not necessarily on a straight line. Pick an angle to see the approximate effect.
Rule-of-thumb estimate for planning only. The reliable anchor points are 100% at vertical and roughly 50% at horizontal; the in-between values shown here are an illustrative interpolation, not a measured curve. The exact behavior for a given hexapod, payload mass, and CoG can be simulated precisely in the free HexaSym simulation software.
Travel range and CoG location matter too
The payload rating does not mean a heavier payload can never be mounted safely. For limited displacements, a hexapod can carry significantly more than its rating while still maintaining resolution, repeatability, speed, and acceleration. The HexaSym simulation software makes it easy to assess how far cumulated displacements can go with a heavier-than-rated mass, in any mounting orientation. If the CoG sits well above or away from the mobile platform, expect the usable travel range to shrink even when the mass itself is within the rating.
3. Travel Range
Another critical question is how much displacement the application needs, and whether it needs cumulated displacements. Hexapods are parallel robots, and one of their main limitations compared to serial structures like stacked stages is that moving in one direction can reduce the remaining travel range in the other degrees of freedom. This coupling is easy to explore in the HexaSym simulation software.
Two more factors influence the reachable travel range:
- Payload mass and CoG location. If the CoG is relatively centered above the mobile platform, travel range is barely affected, or not at all. If the mass exceeds the rating, or the CoG sits far from the hexapod even with a compliant mass, the platform must stay within limited travel to preserve irreversibility, resolution, and accuracy.
- Center of rotation (CoR) location. One of the great advantages of a hexapod is that the pivot point can be software-configured to sit virtually anywhere in space. The CoR position does not affect linear travel, but it does reduce angular travel: the datasheet angular ranges assume a CoR at {0;0;0}, and a CoR placed far away forces very large actuator movements to achieve even a few degrees of rotation.
Size drives linear travel, not angular travel
Linear travel range is mainly tied to actuator length, and to a lesser extent to geometry (flat and wide versus tall and narrow). Small hexapods offer short linear travel and large hexapods offer long linear travel. Angular travel, by contrast, stays remarkably consistent across the range. The comparison below puts the smallest and largest positioning hexapods side by side.
SOLANO smallest positioning hexapod
JORAN UJ largest positioning hexapod
What if the application needs a larger travel range?
When a hexapod matches every other requirement but falls short on travel in one or several axes, Symetrie can develop a customized solution that integrates additional stages, and the Axiom Optics team can scope it for the application. Tap each option to expand it.
Additional Rz (yaw) rotation stage or C-axis +
Adding an Rz rotation stage is very common, and it can even provide 360° continuous rotation. Most of the time a small rotation stage fits inside the hexapod, between the actuators, attached directly to the mobile platform. Alternatively, a larger rotation stage can carry the entire hexapod system on top of it.
Additional linear stage +
For a longer translation range in one direction, a linear stage can be added either onto the mobile platform of the hexapod or underneath, supporting the entire hexapod system.
Additional multi-axis stages +
There are many ways to add multiple degrees of freedom: mounting the hexapod on a gimbal system for two extra rotations, mounting a Tx-Ty linear stage stack on the mobile platform, or hybrid systems combining one translation and one rotation. Sky is the limit, so come talk to the Axiom Optics team even if no standard hexapod checks every box.
More complex multi-hexapod systems +
Symetrie has built far more complex systems with 8 or more degrees of freedom, sometimes up to 15 DoF, integrating and controlling multiple hexapods plus linear and rotation stages through a single control software.
4. Resolution & Repeatability
Many applications use hexapods to position a payload with extreme accuracy, whether for alignment, metrology, or manufacturing processes. Not every application needs the same level of precision, so it pays to select a hexapod that matches or exceeds the actual requirements. Start by getting the vocabulary straight:
The smallest incremental movement the hexapod can achieve. With 0.5 µm resolution, the platform moves in multiples of 0.5 µm, like 1.0 µm or 2.5 µm, but cannot reach positions in between, like 0.8 µm or 1.2 µm.
How consistently the hexapod returns to the same position. Command 50.000 mm, measure 50.001, 50.002, 49.999, 50.001, 50.000 after back-and-forth moves, and the ±1 µm spread is the repeatability.
The absolute positioning error. Take the same command but measure 50.011, 50.012, 50.009, 50.011, 50.010: repeatability is still an excellent ±1 µm, but accuracy is ±10 µm.
Explore the precision tiers
Positioning hexapods group into three tiers for each metric. Pick a metric below and the tiers reorganize, with each model linked to its product page.
A quick word about motion hexapods
Motion hexapod resolution and repeatability are usually not critical, since these systems rarely handle precision tasks. Still, some customers need high speed and acceleration together with fine resolution and repeatability. Here is where the motion range lands:
| Model | Linear resolution | Angular resolution | Linear repeatability | Angular repeatability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEGOA | 5 µm | 0.001° | ±25 µm | ±0.005° |
| NOTUS | 20 µm | 0.002° | ±100 µm | ±0.01° |
| MISTRAL | 20 µm | 0.002° | ±100 µm | ±0.01° |
5. Speed & Acceleration
Hexapods are heavily used for movement simulation and for movement compensation or stabilization, and those applications demand high speed and high acceleration. One important caveat: Symetrie hexapods use electric actuators rather than hydraulic or pneumatic ones, so they are not ideal for very small high-frequency movements such as vibration testing or vibration compensation.
Motion hexapod speed rates
The table distinguishes lateral (XY) from axial (Z) rates. Sort by any spec to see which platform leads.
Sort by any column with the small arrows in the header.
| Model | Payload | Linear XY speed | Linear Z speed | Angular XY speed | Angular Z speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 200 mm/s | 120 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 640 mm/s | 135°/s | 135°/s |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 800 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 1,000 mm/s | 100°/s | 140°/s |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 1,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 50°/s | 70°/s |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 2,000 mm/s | 1,800 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 1,800 mm/s | 1,600 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 1,800 mm/s | 1,600 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 200 mm/s | 120 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 1,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 50°/s | 70°/s |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 1,000 mm/s | 100°/s | 140°/s |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 800 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 640 mm/s | 135°/s | 135°/s |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 2,000 mm/s | 1,800 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 2,000 mm/s | 1,800 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 640 mm/s | 135°/s | 135°/s |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 800 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 1,000 mm/s | 100°/s | 140°/s |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 1,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 50°/s | 70°/s |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 200 mm/s | 120 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 1,800 mm/s | 1,600 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 200 mm/s | 120 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 640 mm/s | 135°/s | 135°/s |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 800 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 1,000 mm/s | 100°/s | 140°/s |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 1,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 50°/s | 70°/s |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 2,000 mm/s | 1,800 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 1,800 mm/s | 1,600 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 1,800 mm/s | 1,600 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 2,000 mm/s | 1,800 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 1,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 50°/s | 70°/s |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 1,000 mm/s | 100°/s | 140°/s |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 800 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 640 mm/s | 135°/s | 135°/s |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 200 mm/s | 120 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 200 mm/s | 120 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 800 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 1,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 50°/s | 70°/s |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 640 mm/s | 135°/s | 135°/s |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 1,000 mm/s | 100°/s | 140°/s |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 1,800 mm/s | 1,600 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 2,000 mm/s | 1,800 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 2,000 mm/s | 1,800 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 1,800 mm/s | 1,600 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 640 mm/s | 135°/s | 135°/s |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 1,000 mm/s | 100°/s | 140°/s |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 1,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 50°/s | 70°/s |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 800 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 200 mm/s | 120 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 200 mm/s | 120 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 800 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 1,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 50°/s | 70°/s |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 640 mm/s | 135°/s | 135°/s |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 1,000 mm/s | 100°/s | 140°/s |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 1,800 mm/s | 1,600 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 2,000 mm/s | 1,800 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 2,000 mm/s | 1,800 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 1,800 mm/s | 1,600 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 1,000 mm/s | 100°/s | 140°/s |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 640 mm/s | 135°/s | 135°/s |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 1,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 50°/s | 70°/s |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 800 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 200 mm/s | 120 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 200 mm/s | 120 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 800 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 1,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 50°/s | 70°/s |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 1,000 mm/s | 100°/s | 140°/s |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 640 mm/s | 135°/s | 135°/s |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 2,000 mm/s | 1,800 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 1,800 mm/s | 1,600 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 2,000 mm/s | 1,800 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 1,800 mm/s | 1,600 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 640 mm/s | 135°/s | 135°/s |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 1,000 mm/s | 100°/s | 140°/s |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 200 mm/s | 120 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 800 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 1,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 50°/s | 70°/s |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 200 mm/s | 120 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 800 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 1,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 50°/s | 70°/s |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 2,000 mm/s | 1,800 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 1,800 mm/s | 1,600 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 640 mm/s | 135°/s | 135°/s |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 1,000 mm/s | 100°/s | 140°/s |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 1,000 mm/s | 100°/s | 140°/s |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 1,200 mm/s | 640 mm/s | 135°/s | 135°/s |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 2,000 mm/s | 1,800 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 1,800 mm/s | 1,600 mm/s | 200°/s | 100°/s |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 1,000 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 50°/s | 70°/s |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 200 mm/s | 120 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 800 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 50°/s | 50°/s |
Motion hexapod acceleration rates
As a reminder, 10,000 mm/s² = 10 m/s² = 1 g. Sortable the same way.
Sort by any column with the small arrows in the header.
| Model | Payload | Linear XY accel. | Linear Z accel. | Angular XY accel. | Angular Z accel. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 800 mm/s² | 800 mm/s² | 200°/s² | 200°/s² |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 10,000 mm/s² | 2,000°/s² | 2,000°/s² |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,000°/s² | 1,000°/s² |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 8,000 mm/s² | 8,000 mm/s² | 800°/s² | 1,100°/s² |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 5,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 500°/s² | 700°/s² |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 6,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 7,000 mm/s² | 7,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 7,000 mm/s² | 7,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 800 mm/s² | 800 mm/s² | 200°/s² | 200°/s² |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 5,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 500°/s² | 700°/s² |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 8,000 mm/s² | 8,000 mm/s² | 800°/s² | 1,100°/s² |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,000°/s² | 1,000°/s² |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 10,000 mm/s² | 2,000°/s² | 2,000°/s² |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 6,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 6,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 10,000 mm/s² | 2,000°/s² | 2,000°/s² |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,000°/s² | 1,000°/s² |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 8,000 mm/s² | 8,000 mm/s² | 800°/s² | 1,100°/s² |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 5,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 500°/s² | 700°/s² |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 800 mm/s² | 800 mm/s² | 200°/s² | 200°/s² |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 7,000 mm/s² | 7,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 800 mm/s² | 800 mm/s² | 200°/s² | 200°/s² |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 10,000 mm/s² | 2,000°/s² | 2,000°/s² |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,000°/s² | 1,000°/s² |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 8,000 mm/s² | 8,000 mm/s² | 800°/s² | 1,100°/s² |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 5,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 500°/s² | 700°/s² |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 6,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 7,000 mm/s² | 7,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 7,000 mm/s² | 7,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 6,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 5,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 500°/s² | 700°/s² |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 8,000 mm/s² | 8,000 mm/s² | 800°/s² | 1,100°/s² |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,000°/s² | 1,000°/s² |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 10,000 mm/s² | 2,000°/s² | 2,000°/s² |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 800 mm/s² | 800 mm/s² | 200°/s² | 200°/s² |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 800 mm/s² | 800 mm/s² | 200°/s² | 200°/s² |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 5,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 500°/s² | 700°/s² |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 6,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 7,000 mm/s² | 7,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 8,000 mm/s² | 8,000 mm/s² | 800°/s² | 1,100°/s² |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 10,000 mm/s² | 2,000°/s² | 2,000°/s² |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,000°/s² | 1,000°/s² |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 10,000 mm/s² | 2,000°/s² | 2,000°/s² |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,000°/s² | 1,000°/s² |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 8,000 mm/s² | 8,000 mm/s² | 800°/s² | 1,100°/s² |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 7,000 mm/s² | 7,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 6,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 5,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 500°/s² | 700°/s² |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 800 mm/s² | 800 mm/s² | 200°/s² | 200°/s² |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 800 mm/s² | 800 mm/s² | 200°/s² | 200°/s² |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,000°/s² | 1,000°/s² |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 5,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 500°/s² | 700°/s² |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 6,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 7,000 mm/s² | 7,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 8,000 mm/s² | 8,000 mm/s² | 800°/s² | 1,100°/s² |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 10,000 mm/s² | 2,000°/s² | 2,000°/s² |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 10,000 mm/s² | 2,000°/s² | 2,000°/s² |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 8,000 mm/s² | 8,000 mm/s² | 800°/s² | 1,100°/s² |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 7,000 mm/s² | 7,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,000°/s² | 1,000°/s² |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 5,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 500°/s² | 700°/s² |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 6,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 800 mm/s² | 800 mm/s² | 200°/s² | 200°/s² |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 800 mm/s² | 800 mm/s² | 200°/s² | 200°/s² |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 5,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 500°/s² | 700°/s² |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 8,000 mm/s² | 8,000 mm/s² | 800°/s² | 1,100°/s² |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,000°/s² | 1,000°/s² |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 6,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 7,000 mm/s² | 7,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 10,000 mm/s² | 2,000°/s² | 2,000°/s² |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 10,000 mm/s² | 2,000°/s² | 2,000°/s² |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 6,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 7,000 mm/s² | 7,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,000°/s² | 1,000°/s² |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 8,000 mm/s² | 8,000 mm/s² | 800°/s² | 1,100°/s² |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 5,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 500°/s² | 700°/s² |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 800 mm/s² | 800 mm/s² | 200°/s² | 200°/s² |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 800 mm/s² | 800 mm/s² | 200°/s² | 200°/s² |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 6,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 7,000 mm/s² | 7,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 5,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 500°/s² | 700°/s² |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,000°/s² | 1,000°/s² |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 8,000 mm/s² | 8,000 mm/s² | 800°/s² | 1,100°/s² |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 10,000 mm/s² | 2,000°/s² | 2,000°/s² |
| NOTUS V | 100 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 10,000 mm/s² | 2,000°/s² | 2,000°/s² |
| MISTRAL V | 500 kg | 8,000 mm/s² | 8,000 mm/s² | 800°/s² | 1,100°/s² |
| NOTUS P | 200 kg | 10,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,000°/s² | 1,000°/s² |
| MISTRAL P | 1,000 kg | 5,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 500°/s² | 700°/s² |
| SIROCCO | 2,000 kg | 6,000 mm/s² | 6,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| AQUILON | 6,000 kg | 7,000 mm/s² | 7,000 mm/s² | 1,200°/s² | 600°/s² |
| HEGOA | 50 kg | 800 mm/s² | 800 mm/s² | 200°/s² | 200°/s² |
Compare the dynamics visually
The same data as bars: pick a quantity and an axis to see at a glance which Symetrie platform leads. Linear axes chart in green, angular axes in red.
Values match the sortable tables above. Bars are scaled linearly to the largest value of the selected metric.
A quick word about positioning hexapods
Most positioning hexapods move at roughly 1 mm/s linear and 1°/s angular. Three models more or less stand out:
| Spec | SOLANO | BREVA | SIRIUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payload | 5 kg | 200 kg | 1,000 kg |
| Linear XY speed | 30 mm/s | 6 mm/s | 8 mm/s |
| Linear Z speed | 20 mm/s | 4 mm/s | 4 mm/s |
| Angular XY speed | 15°/s | 1.5°/s | 1°/s |
| Angular Z speed | 20°/s | 2.25°/s | 2.5°/s |
6. Environment
Finally, some applications require the hexapod to operate in an atypical environment. All Symetrie hexapods ship compatible with indoor use by default, but the Symetrie catalog also covers extra-clean environments for semiconductor and optical manufacturing, in-vacuum operation with large temperature swings for space and high-energy physics, outdoor operation in dust, rain, and snow for antenna testing and astronomy, and even non-magnetic builds for magnetism-sensitive instruments.
ISO-5 cleanroom compatibility +
All positioning hexapods can be made compatible with an ISO-5 cleanroom environment, formerly Class 100, which allows at most 3,520 airborne particles larger than 0.5 µm per cubic meter and only 29 particles larger than 5.0 µm. Meeting that requirement means ISO-5 compatible parts and grease, machining to a specific roughness requirement, ultrasonic baths, cleanroom assembly, and compatible packaging films. An ISO-5 compatible crate is also available. Mention this option early in the discussion with the Axiom Optics sales representative.
High-vacuum compatibility +
Some positioning hexapods can be made high-vacuum compatible. High vacuum (HV) refers to pressures from 10-1 to 10-5 Pa, or 10-3 to 10-7 mbar, often required for space optics testing and for sample or light source alignment in synchrotrons and other high-energy physics facilities. Four platforms can be modified for HV, all tested at 10-6 mbar:
- MAUKA: 5 kg payload, 0.5 µm / 5 µrad resolution
- BORA: 10 kg payload, 0.1 µm / 2 µrad resolution
- ZONDA S and ZONDA: 400 kg payload, 0.1 µm / 0.5 µrad resolution
- JORAN BJ and JORAN UJ: 1,500 kg payload, 0.1 µm / 0.5 µrad resolution
Modifications include HV-compatible motors, ball screws, encoders, and grease, epoxy protection on electronic boards, Teflon HV-compatible cables, no anodizing or HV-compatible anodizing, and ultrasonic bath cleaning. The hexapod ships with air-side and vacuum-side cables, but not the vacuum feedthrough.
Extended temperature range, monitoring, and thermal management +
Often paired with high-vacuum compatibility, the hexapod may also need to survive larger temperature swings, both powered on and powered off during bake-out. As standard, hexapods operate from 0°C to +50°C, with storage and survival from -10°C to +50°C. For the BORA, ZONDA, and JORAN, the ETR option (Extended Temperature Range) raises the operating range to -40°C to +65°C and the storage range to -40°C to +75°C. Related options include PT100 temperature sensors at the motor level, readable through the software, and thermal braids that evacuate heat from the motors to the fixed platform and colder parts.
Outdoor compatibility (IP65) +
Some hexapods need to live outside, exposed to dust, rain, or snow. In astronomy, a hexapod aligning an M2 mirror on a telescope will see dust whenever the observatory is open, and on radio telescopes the hexapod stays outside permanently. Antenna testing is another common outdoor case. Most hexapods can be customized for outdoor use, typically with stainless steel for all exposed parts, compatible grease, a flexible tarpaulin cover running from the mobile platform to the fixed platform, a modified mobile platform without a central aperture, and protected joints. This brings the hexapod to an IP65 rating. Note that the electrical cabinet is not outdoor compatible, only the hexapod itself. Specify the expected exposure (dust only, dust and rain, or dust, rain, and snow) when discussing the project.
High magnetic field and non-magnetic builds +
Some applications require a non-magnetic positioning system to avoid interference with magnetism-sensitive instruments and probes. Symetrie has experience building non-magnetic hexapods, always as highly customized projects, using non-magnetic aluminum alloys, titanium, or bronze, non-magnetic motors such as piezoelectric or direct-drive linear actuators, and absolute linear encoders. One example is a non-magnetic, ultra-flat hexapod at the Quantum Control Laboratory at the University of Sydney, positioning an 80 kg vacuum chamber for trapped-ion experiments inside a 2 Tesla magnet.
Environmental compatibility matrix
Select an environment to highlight the standard models that support it off the shelf. A NO in this matrix means the option is not available in standard for that model, but it could potentially be developed as a custom project.
| Family | Model | Clean room | Vacuum | Temperature | Outdoor | Non-magnetic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positioning | SOLANO | YES | NO | NO | NO | NO |
| MAUKA | YES | YES | NO | NO | NO | |
| BORA | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO | |
| PUNA | YES | NO | NO | NO | NO | |
| BREVA | YES | NO | NO | NO | NO | |
| ZONDA | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO | |
| KUBAN | YES | NO | NO | NO | NO | |
| SURES | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO | |
| SIRIUS | YES | NO | NO | NO | NO | |
| JORAN | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO | |
| Motion | HEGOA | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO |
| NOTUS | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO | |
| MISTRAL | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO | |
| SIROCCO | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO | |
| AQUILON | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO |
Putting It All Together
The goal of this buyers guide is to help anyone interested in a high-end positioning or motion system find their way through the Symetrie catalog and understand what the main hexapod specifications and variations actually mean. It is no easy task, and in the end the best advice comes from a conversation. Work through the six questions above, run the HexaSym simulation software against the real payload and trajectory, and bring the shortlist to the Axiom Optics team.
Radar profile for every standard platform
Symetrie scores each standard platform on payload, size, travel range, speed, and resolution using the same relative scale, which makes the trade-offs easy to read at a glance. Pick a model to see its profile.
Ready to Find Your Hexapod?
The Axiom Optics team of scientists and engineers will confirm the right model, run payload and travel simulations for the exact application, and quote standard or customized configurations, from miniature sub-100 nm positioners to 6,000 kg motion platforms.
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