Open MicroManipulator – A sub-micrometer 3D motion control plattform

The Open MicroManipulator is an open-source, affordable motorized XYZ motion control platform that achieves sub-micrometer precision through a parallel kinematic structure and magnetic gearing approach, designed for applications like optical alignment and microscopy. The device uses off-the-shelf stepper motors controlled via a 30 kHz closed-loop controller and can be operated through simple G-Code commands over USB, incorporating a complete motion planning stack for smooth path following. Version 4.0 of the hardware has recently been released, addressing design issues from previous iterations including collision problems during homing and improved mechanical constraints.