Investment and selectionShuttle Precisor
Shuttle Architecture: One Servo Axis, Dozens of Lasers
Discover the sequential positioning approach of SHUTTLE PRECISOR and where it fits when many references are needed.
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Core Precisor’s Six Motion Configurations
Single-channel, dual-channel and symmetrical architectures: when a fixed reference laser is needed and which line suits which configuration. From K1 to K6, here is the question each configuration answers.
Engineering assessment
Choose the configuration on process behaviour, not on the number of laser lines
- Compare K1–K6 on simultaneous visibility, recipe symmetry and the need for a permanent centre reference.
- Verify cycle time against travel, acceleration and deceleration ramps, load and the number of positions.
- Confirm the mechanical layout and accessibility by on-site measurement before the final choice.
Core Precisor carries servo-driven laser carriages inside an enclosed industrial profile. The number of carriages, the end they start from and whether a fixed reference sits at the centre together define the motion configuration . We have defined six standard arrangements, all running on the same housing and the same control infrastructure.
Why six arrangements?
Because lines differ on three questions: how many reference lines are needed at once, whether those lines sit symmetrically, and whether the machine centre has to stay visible. The six configurations are the meaningful combinations of those three.
Single channel: K1 and K2
K1 is the simplest arrangement: a single moving laser travels to each recipe position in turn. On a four-slit line it shows three laser reference lines in three steps, at the lowest investment and the lowest component count.
K2 adds, on top of the same motion, a fixed reference laser at the centre. The moving laser does the same job; the difference is that the machine centre stays visible throughout. On symmetrical recipes the operator keeps a permanent check point.
Dual channel: K3 and K4
K3, two moving lasers start from opposite ends of the travel and move towards each other. The same number of steps covers twice as many line positions: a six-slit recipe is set up in roughly half the steps a single channel needs.
K4 adds the fixed centre reference to K3. Here we should be honest: K4 does not reduce the step count. The fixed laser does not move, so it contributes nothing to the cycle. Its gain lies elsewhere: the centre reference is permanent, and symmetry can be checked by eye at every step.
Centre-out: K5 and K6
K5, the two moving lasers start at the centre and open outwards symmetrically. This is the natural motion for lines where slit width is set relative to the centre: the operator sees the arrangement expand from the middle out, matching how they think about the recipe.
K6 combines the same motion with a fixed reference at the centre. The two lines opening from the middle are positioned against a third, stationary line — the strongest arrangement for checking symmetry.
Which one for which line?
| Arrangement | Motion | Fixed reference | Suits which line |
|---|---|---|---|
| K1 | Single channel | — | Few slits, single reference; the lowest investment |
| K2 | Single channel | At the centre | Few-slit lines where the centre must be checked continuously |
| K3 | Dual channel, from the ends | — | More slits; lines where setup time matters |
| K4 | Dual channel, from the ends | At the centre | Multi-slit lines where verifying symmetry is critical |
| K5 | Symmetrical, from the centre | — | Lines where slit width is set relative to the centre |
| K6 | Symmetrical, from the centre | At the centre | Symmetrical lines where a centre reference is indispensable |
What determines the choice
- How many reference lines are needed at once? Core Precisor shows the lines in sequence, step by step through the recipe. If every laser reference line has to stay visible throughout production, the right architecture is Shuttle Precisor.
- Is the recipe symmetrical? If it is, K5/K6; if not, K1–K4 fits better.
- How often is the centre checked? Once at the start of a shift, and the fixed laser is optional; on every product, and a permanent reference saves time.
What we see on site
Customers usually ask for the arrangement with the most features. Yet after three months of use the feedback is most often: “K2 would have been enough for us.” Do not count the steps — count how many times the operator takes a measurement . That is what determines the choice.
You can see all six arrangements at true millimetre scale, step by step, in the simulation on the Core Precisor product page .
WHAT DOES YOUR LINE NEED?
Share your alignment requirements and we will assess the laser layout, the motion architecture and the automation interfaces for your application together.
GET IN TOUCHFor short definitions of the terms used in this article, see the alignment glossary .