Burleigh PCS-6000 / 6100 Controller and fixture

The Burleigh PCS-6000 / 6100 Controller and Fixture is a precision micro-positioning system that combines motorized coarse positioning with piezoelectric fine control for nanometer-level sample manipulation. Designed for high-stability, low-drift operation, it delivers rapid coarse adjustments followed by ultra-fine piezo tuning - critical for demanding electrophysiology and research applications where drift and electrical noise compromise results.

Technical Specifications

• Positioning Technology: Piezoelectric actuators (fine control) and stepper motors (coarse positioning)


• Coarse Travel: 1 inch (≈25 mm) per axis


• Coarse Step Size: Down to 5 µm


• Fine Piezo Travel: 150 µm or 300 µm options per axis


• Drift Performance: <1 µm/hour per axis


• Coarse Motion Speed: 0.0005 mm/sec to 2 mm/sec (continuously variable); Memory speed 3.5 mm/sec


• Computer Interface: USB


• Axis Configurations: Three orthogonal axes (front-to-back, vertical, approach); left-hand and right-hand variants


• Manipulator Dimensions: Approximately 7" × 8.5" × 7.5" (length, width, height); height adjustable

Key Features

• Electrically quiet motors paired with specialty shielded cables, internal ground skeleton, and grounding pin eliminate experimental noise


• Integrated rotary stages with adjustable Home and Work positions lock approach angles for repeatable cell or tissue access


• Modular construction supports mixed configurations: motorized or manual long-travel axes, 150 µm or 300 µm piezo per axis, or no piezo option


• Dual manipulator packages (PCS-6200) available for simultaneous multi-site positioning


• Large-knob Axis Control Unit (ACU) for manual fine positioning; joystick controls servo motor speed and direction for coarse motion

Typical Applications Electrophysiology patch-clamp recording, microinjection, and tissue slice manipulation where sub-micron stability and rapid approach-and-fine-tune workflows are essential.

Compatibility & Integration USB control interface supports integration with standard laboratory automation systems. Modular design accommodates cultured cell ('C') or traditional tissue slice ('T') mounting configurations.