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Creating custom human-machine interfaces (HMIs) for precision automation and motion control systems allows developers to deliver the most targeted and specific user experience. Unfortunately, building custom HMIs from scratch can be tedious and time-consuming. When hard deadlines are a real concern, it can seem necessary to compromise and settle for a more general “one size fits all” development tool solution. This often results in an interface that is ill-suited to individual users and challenging for new users who are onboarding. Fortunately, as HMI development tools evolve their increased capabilities mean compromise is not always necessary. By selecting an HMI development tool with the right features, developers can speed up their process and minimize errors while meeting the needs of various end users.

Advancements in silicon photonic and micro-optic technologies are driving the need to perform precision alignments down to sub-micrometer levels. As cutting-edge optical and photonic processes demand increasingly smaller, nanometer-scale tolerances, precision motion control is more important than ever. Achieving these alignments is crucial to quality – misalignments of even a few micrometers can result in significant power losses. As emerging chip-level functionalities and device miniaturization intensify the demand for nanopositioning technology, there is a correlated need for solutions that balance speed and precision – reducing process cycle times without compromising on quality.

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) has revolutionized the manufacturing industry by enabling the creation of complex and customized parts with unprecedented precision and flexibility. In the July issue of Photonics Spectra, Aerotech’s Bryan Germann explains how two photon polymerization (2PP) has emerged as a powerful tool for creating high resolution structures at the nanoscale.