100 μm closed-loop and 120 μm open-loop travels with custom travels available Aerotech’s QFOCUS™ QF1 piezo nanopositioning stage offers microscope objective and optics positioning with nanometer-level precision at high speeds. With ultra-precision capacitive sensor feedback and high structural stiffness, the QF1 is perfect for demanding scanning applications, microscopy, or any optical application requiring high precision […]
Integrated Linear Systems
What do delta robots have in common with spiders?
Discussions of industrial robots typically focus on three types: Cartesian, SCARA, and 6-axis. But there’s another robot design that is gaining prominence, especially in packaging and electronic assembly applications—the delta robot. Parallel vs serial robots Delta robots are a type of parallel robot, meaning that their motors and legs are connected mechanically in parallel, with […]
150-mm precision X-Y motion platform from Griffin Motion
Griffin Motion’s new CXY-BS Series 150-mm Precision XY Motion Platform is fully customizable, ships quickly and is ideal for use in microscopy, inspection, wafer processing, microtiter plate processing, laser marking, and optical positioning applications. This compact, low-profile, ball-screw-drive stage exhibits high levels of orthogonality (10 arc-sec) and parallelism, enabling 150 mm of precise XY travel with 10 µm […]
The top 10 Linear Motion Tips articles of 2015
With the range of technologies, designs, and options available for linear motion components, ploughing through the alternatives and making the best decision takes more time and resources than many designers and engineers are able to expend on any individual component. Looking back at the top 10 most-read Linear Motion Tips articles of 2015 confirms this situation. From primers on […]
The basics of air bearings
Bearings are often thought of as mechanical rolling or sliding elements, but linear (or rotary) bearings can also use a thin film of pressurized air to support a load. With no mechanical elements to generate friction or heat, air bearings are ideal for applications that require extremely high precision and stiffness. Pressure generation and air delivery […]
Low cost, high precision vertical lift stage
The AT10-120 motorized vertical stage from Optimal Engineering Systems, Inc. (OES) is a high resolution, low profile, high load vertical lift stage that can be easily integrated into almost any application. The large 220 x 140 mm (8.7 x 5.5 in.) drilled and tapped platform has a vertical travel of 110 mm (4.3 in.). The […]
Low cost, high precision linear voice coil stages from MOtiCOnt
MOtiCOnt’s VCDS-051-089-01 series linear motion voice coil stages feature a voice coil motor, a ball bearing linear slide, home switch, and an integral optical quadrature encoder with differential outputs. Measuring 13.5 in (342.9 mm) long x 4.00 in. (101.6) wide x 3.755 in. (95.4 mm) high, the VCDS-051-089-01 series stages have a linear travel of […]
New sealed linear actuators for lighter loads
Bell-Everman is now offering a new compact model of their SLS sealed linear stage that keeps contamination such as manufacturing debris, particulate or liquid contaminants outside of the stage housing. The SLS Light model, which measures 80 x 120 mm, has maximum dynamic payloads of 15 kg for the direct drive linear motor version and […]
Hardened way slides provide durability for long-life operations
Gilman Precision explains the basics of a hardened way slide, including which applications they are good for and how to keep yours in great working condition. Predominantly used for high production, hardened way slides provide linear rigidity for heavy duty applications. “A hardened way slide is a linear positioning device that incorporates precision, ground rectangular […]
2015 linear-motion trends: What to know about pre-engineered setups
Technology improvements continue to elevate the performance of linear-motion setups. When we asked industry experts about this trend, all identified the same driving markets—packaging and medical—but different technologies to satisfy new design challenges. Case in point: Jeremy Miller, product manager for linear mechanics at the Electromechanical Div. of Parker Hannifin, said tubular linear motors lead innovation. […]
