ALIO’s Gold Standard in Motion Control

In the motion control environment, you’ve probably heard terms like “precise,” “ultra-precise,” and “high accuracy” being thrown around. But what do these words really mean? If we’re talking about motion systems, should “precision” just be about hitting a target with a high resolution, or does it need to go deeper?

For ALIO Industries, precision is more than just a buzzword — it’s a philosophy that drives our innovations, especially with our concept of Point Precision®. This is a critical factor when you’re dealing with high-end motion control systems for exacting applications.

The definition of precision in the motion control world can be vague. Many manufacturers boast about achieving specific “resolutions,” but does resolution really give you the full picture of precision? For ALIO, true precision is synonymous with two vital concepts — repeatability and accuracy.

Repeatability ensures that your motion system can achieve the same result over and over again, while accuracy refers to how closely the system can match the intended target position. Without factoring in all six degrees of freedom (6-DOF), however, it’s impossible to provide a true representation of a system’s precision. This is where Point Precision® comes into play.

At its core, Point Precision® goes beyond traditional planar measurements, which typically evaluate motion in only one dimension. Instead, it evaluates the motion system’s performance across all 6-DOF — accounting for errors in each axis of motion. This method ensures that precision is measured not just as a flat plane, but as a specific point in space. Imagine aiming at a point on the wall with a laser pointer instead of trying to flood the wall with light. That’s the difference Point Precision® makes.

Let’s look at hexapods. Conventional hexapods may claim to be precise, but many base their precision claims on the best-case scenario, unidirectional and limited to one axis. ALIO’s Hybrid Hexapod®, on the other hand, provides 3D point precision with less than 100 nm repeatability across the entire work envelope — redefining what precision should look like.

For industries that rely on nanometer-level precision — like metrology or laser processing — traditional standards just won’t cut it anymore. As motion systems become more complex, we’re seeing the limitations of the old measurement methodologies. These systems move in 6D space, meaning they tip, tilt, and twist as they move along their axes. Ignoring these factors can lead to significant errors, which, in turn, affect the repeatability and accuracy of the system.

The need for higher standards in motion control has been recognized at an industry level. ALIO’s Point Precision® concept was recently adopted as part of a new ASME B5.64 standard, which encourages the move away from planar methodologies to 6D point precision specifications. ALIO has been championing this approach for over a decade, and now the industry is catching up.

Point Precision® allows ALIO to offer motion systems that demonstrably not only achieve nano precision but do so repeatably. This differentiates us from other suppliers who may make lofty promises but struggle to meet them consistently. These competitors often rely on “typical” versus “guaranteed” specifications, the former being what could be possible under ideal conditions and the latter being what they can actually achieve. ALIO has no such distinction — we guarantee what we claim, and we achieve True Nano® precision.

Point Precision® provides transparency in specifications for customers and ensures that performance is measured against a more accurate, real-world benchmark. It’s not just about nanometer-level accuracy, it’s about making sure that every point in space — whether linear or angular — is accounted for. This is what differentiates ALIO from other motion control suppliers who are still stuck with outdated methodologies from the past.

Bill Hennessey, President of ALIO Industries, says it best: “We have always believed that a new language and new standards are needed to indicate the real levels of precision that motion control solutions can achieve. Now that standards agencies are coming around to our way of thinking, we feel more confident than ever that ALIO’s Point Precision® is the future of precision motion.”