Workshops can be tailored to individual needs.
Register your interest in a PI Workshop.
Workshops can be tailored to individual needs.
Register your interest in a PI Workshop.
Virtually visit our Inspirations lab in Cranfield to discover how precision motion technology can solve your positioning or alignment challenge.
From using simple single axis actuators to multi axis parallel kinematic robots such as the PI Hexapod our applications workshops are designed to inspire you with the ideas you need to help you maximise the speed, accuracy or throughput of your process.
The lab includes a multi axis PI mechanical system driven by the ACS EtherCAT based real time industrial motion control platform. Working with one of our applications team you will have the opportunity to see how the ACS real time network is able to synchronise motion with peripheral devices such as lasers and vision systems and remove motion disturbance through the implementation of sophisticated algorithms.
If your interest is in parallel kinematic six axis robotics you can take the opportunity to work with one of our hexapod systems and talk with our applications specialist about both how the technology can be employed in the most complex alignment tasks and how automated alignment algorithms are used to optimise the speed of an optical alignment process.
In addition you can find out about the pros and cons of the various motion technologies used by the company. This will include discovering the unique properties of piezo ceramic actuators and piezo motors, voice coil and linear motor drives, and guiding systems such as flexures, traditional bearings and air bearings.
Your visit can be tailored to your individual needs.
If you would prefer us to visit you let us know and our applications team will be in contact when we start customer visits again.
How to get to PI UK
Road
Cranfield University Technology Park benefits from excellent road connections including:
| M1 Junction 13/14 | 4 miles | 8 minutes |
| Central Milton Keynes | 7 miles | 12 minutes |
| M25 | 30 miles | 33 minutes |
| Cambridge | 42 miles | 50 minutes |
| Oxford | 45 miles | 60 minutes |
Rail
Cranfield University Technology Park is well located for a choice of nearby railway stations including:
- Central Milton Keynes – 18 minutes
- Flitwick – 23 minutes
- Bedford – 24 minutes
As such, there are very regular services to London and the south coast, as well as the Midlands and the North, including Scotland. The fastest journey time from Central Milton Keynes to London is approximately 31 minutes.
Bus
A regular bus service operated by Uno connects Cranfield University Technology Park with Milton Keynes and Bedford. For timetables and service updates see here.
Air
London Luton Airport is conveniently reached from Cranfield University Technology Park, via the M1, with a journey time of only approximately 31 minutes.
Cranfield University Technology Park also host its own private airfield, Cranfield Airport. For further information, or to enquire about landing at Cranfield, please contact our Airfield Manager on 01234 752784.
Directions - SAT NAV: MK43 0AN
Cranfield University Technology Park is easy to reach from all directions as follows:
From London and the South
M1 north to Junction 13. Take the A421 in direction of Bedford, then immediately first left, sign-posted to Salford and Cranfield University, first right at Salford. Go straight across the first roundabout, right at the second, and the Technology Park entrance is on the left.
From Birmingham and the North
M1 south to Junction 14. Take A509 in direction of Wellingborough, then immediately first right, proceed through Moulsoe, then turn left following signposts to the university. At the mini-roundabout turn right, at the next roundabout turn right and the entrance to the Technology Park is on the right.
From Bedford and the East
A428-A422 west to Astwood (7m), then left following signposts. Or A421 south-west through Kempston then right through Wootton (5m) following signposts.
From Oxford and the West
Follow A34, then A421, to Bicester, Buckingham and Milton Keynes. In Milton Keynes follow signs to M1 North (Junction 14). Then proceed as from Birmingham and the North.
