July 12, 2011 - Heason Technology added a Z-wedge vertical stage to its FB range of compact nanometre level positioning mechanics. The vertical stages complement a modular and compact range of linear, rotary and goniometric stages that together provide multi-axis and nanometre level translation in all six degrees of freedom. The FBZ075-10 has a classic upper and lower wedge design featuring a precision grade cross roller bearing arrangement that maintains excellent stage stiffness, with a side mounted ceramic motor driving the bottom wedge via a ceramic strip. A linear encoder, available with optional resolutions from 5 to 100 nanometres, is mounted directly on the vertical translation element to eliminate potential wedge angle errors.
The moving top plate has full and easy access from all sides and measures 75 mm x 75 mm with a maximum height of 48 mm. The compact FBZ stage has a vertical travel range of 10 mm and a load carrying capacity of 2 kg. The FB range utilises Nanomotion's HR series high force ceramic motors providing a wide dynamic speed range from a few microns per second up to 250 mm per second - with very high acceleration characteristics. Aimed at demanding ultra-high precision applications such as semiconductor, biomedical and opto-mechanical systems, the technology has no intrinsic magnetic field or moving parts and is well suited to ultra-clean and vacuum environments.
Ceramic motor technology essentially has built-in braking and holding capability and is an excellent choice where high stiffness motion control needs to be combined with fast settling times and optimum in-position stability. FB series linear positioning stages are available in travel ranges from 20 mm to 300 mm are available with direct loads to 3.75 kg. With goniometric style rotary stages available as well as full rotary models, users can arrange multi-axis positioning mechanics around a central pivot axis with angular resolution down to a few arc-seconds. Customised linear, rotary and Z-wedge stages are also available from Nanomotion, with modified features to exactly match application requirements for OEMs and system integrators.
Dedicated 20 kHz servo drives from Nanomotion, or other compatible drives from Heason, are available together with a complete range of motion controllers for nano scale positioning.
