SOLANO | High-Precision Miniature Hexapod

An Ultra-Compact Miniature Hexapod for Precise Positioning

SOLANO is an ultra-compact miniature hexapod designed for the positioning and calibration of elements, achieving a resolution as fine as 0.08 µm.

The SOLANO miniature hexapod meets the rising demands for smaller size, higher resolution, precision, and stability in various applications. Its compact design, with a height of 104 mm and a diameter of 120 mm, allows it to fit into narrow spaces.

SOLANO is versatile, capable of functioning in both vertical and horizontal orientations.

A high performance control center

Controlling a parallel kinematics mechanism like a hexapod necessitates rapid and extensive calculations to convert position instructions into motor current set points while ensuring motion security.

To achieve this, all Symetrie hexapods are equipped with a high-performance control rack that interfaces with their Graphical User Interface (GUI). Additionally, it can optionally interact directly with your software environment through an Application Programming Interface (API).

A complete and flexible Solution

Control racks are designed with:

• A powerful multi-axis Delta Tau industrial controller
• Drivers tailored to meet the specific requirements of each application
• Input-output modules that enable diverse interactions with the hexapod environment

This robust and flexible control solutions can adapt to different types of motors (DC, brushless, stepper) and work with various encoder technologies (absolute, incremental, linear, rotary).

Additionally, all controllers are compatible with an optional hand-held control unit.

Choosing the right hexapod for you

Symetrie offers a free software, HexaSym, designed to simplify the process of checking the travel ranges and load capacities of each hexapod in their lineup. HexaSym enables you to select the most suitable product for your application and test various configurations. See the “software” tab for more information on HexaSym.

Click HERE to download HexaSym

Want to learn more about Hexapods? Visit our application page HERE. 

How SOLANO Compares in the Positioning Hexapod Range

SOLANO is the most compact hexapod in the Symetrie positioning range. It carries 5 kg in vertical orientation and 2.5 kg horizontally, offers plus or minus 18 mm linear travel in XY and plus or minus 6.5 mm in Z, plus or minus 10 degrees in RxRy and plus or minus 21 degrees in Rz, with resolution down to 0.08 micrometers, all in a 120 mm diameter and 104 mm high body. The table below shows where it sits against the rest of the positioning lineup so you can step up if an application needs more payload, longer travel, or vacuum compatibility. MAUKA and BORA share SOLANO’s 5 to 10 kg class and are the closest alternatives.

See the full positioning hexapods category, or the complete hexapods range including motion hexapods. Exact travel, resolution, and payload figures for each model are on its product page.

SOLANO Hexapod FAQs

What is the SOLANO hexapod?

SOLANO is an ultra-compact miniature hexapod from Symetrie, built for the precise positioning and calibration of small components and instruments. It moves a payload through six degrees of freedom using six coordinated actuators and resolves motion down to 0.08 micrometers, all in a body just 120 mm in diameter and 104 mm high, so it fits into narrow spaces where larger positioning systems will not.

What positioning resolution and repeatability does SOLANO offer?

SOLANO resolves translation down to 0.08 micrometers, which is 80 nanometers, and rotation down to 2.5 microradians. Its repeatability is plus or minus 0.25 micrometers in translation and plus or minus 4 microradians in rotation. This makes it suitable for fine alignment and calibration tasks that require sub-micron precision and consistent, repeatable moves.

How much payload can SOLANO carry, and can it be mounted horizontally?

SOLANO carries up to 5 kg when mounted in vertical orientation and up to 2.5 kg when mounted horizontally, and it is designed to work in either orientation. When sizing it, use the full loaded mass of the payload including its mounting fixture and any cabling, and keep within these limits for reliable performance.

Is SOLANO vacuum or cleanroom compatible?

SOLANO is not rated for vacuum or cryogenic use, but it is available with cleanroom compatibility to ISO 5 as an option. It operates over a temperature range of 0 to 50 degrees Celsius. Applications that require operation inside a vacuum chamber should consider the vacuum-compatible MAUKA or BORA hexapods instead.

How is the SOLANO hexapod controlled?

SOLANO is driven by the ALPHA+ control rack over an Ethernet interface, powered from 110 to 240 VAC at 50 to 60 Hz. The SYM_Positioning software provides a graphical interface for safe motion control, real-time position display, position sequences, and configuration of the center of rotation and coordinate systems, along with an API that interfaces with C, LabVIEW, EPICS, SPEC, TANGO, Python, and Matlab. An optional hand-held control unit is also available.

What applications is SOLANO suited for?

SOLANO is used across astronomy, automotive, energy, optics, research and engineering, space, and synchrotron applications, wherever compact, precise six-axis positioning is needed. Its 50 mm central aperture through the mobile platform makes it particularly useful in optical and beamline setups where a beam or probe must pass through the center of the hexapod.

How do I choose between SOLANO and a larger positioning hexapod?

Start with payload, travel, and environment. SOLANO fits compact, light-payload applications up to 5 kg that need sub-micron precision, while heavier loads, longer travel, or vacuum operation point to other models such as PUNA, SIRIUS, or the vacuum-compatible MAUKA and BORA. Symetrie’s free HexaSym simulator lets you check travel ranges and load capacities and test worst-case configurations across the full range, and the comparison table and selection guide on this page show where SOLANO sits relative to the alternatives.