XYZ Linear Stage, ULTRAlign, 0.5 in., Right-Handed, 8-32 and 1/4-20

Spring-flexures have been touted as the best design method for ultra-precise positioning, but they are inherently susceptible to vibrational disturbances. Their low natural frequency makes them extremely sensitive to everyday lab activities - even walking or talking could disturb your experimental measurements. Touching a flexure component or the optical table can cause changes in the stage position, causing large variations in the output signal. This sensitivity can make fine manual adjustment difficult or sometimes impossible and forces the use of more expensive motion control systems.

Crossed roller bearings, when optimally pre-loaded, are not as susceptible to vibration, giving the ULTRAlign™ far greater stability and stiffness than positioners with flexure designs. With the precision and stability made possible by crossed roller bearing construction, in many cases manual micrometers can be substituted for piezoelectric actuators without degrading positioning performance.

562 Series ULTRAlign™ Linear Stages are 3-axis, stainless steel translation stages with a rugged build well suited to higher load capacities (up to 35 lb.). The robust design and higher mass also makes them ideally suited for high-use industrial manufacturing and high-use research applications, as well as having greater thermal stability. Smooth motion along each axis is provided by the crossed-roller bearings and precision-manufactured bearing surfaces, similar to the 461 ULTRAlign series, but larger diameter bearings increase the stiffness of the stage. Exceptionally linear travel, with angular deviation <100 µrad about any axis, is verified with our six-axis interferometer to ensure optimal precision. Each stage axis is equipped with a non-influencing locking mechanism to maintain sub-micron positioning when locking or unlocking.

Each axis of the 562 Series ULTRAlign™ Linear Stages is equipped with a non-influencing locking mechanism to maintain alignment with sub-micron sensitivity when engaging or disengaging.

Actuator mounts for each axis of these stages allow their use with either manual micrometers or motorized actuators for customized step precision, as well as their easy interchange for wide applicability. All actuators are located below the top surface level to accommodate multiple platform configurations.

Each ULTRAlign Stainless Steel Crossed-Roller Translation Stage is tested individually to ensure it meets the <100 µrad angular deviation requirement. We don't just say it, we guarantee it. The actual test results are included with each stage.