Product category:
Electric Linear Actuators
News Release from: Heason Technology | Subject: Nanomotion motorised z-axis autofocus stage
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 21 February 2008
Motorised stage brings z-axis into focus
Assembly combines novel standing wave, inverse piezoelectric ceramic motor technology and a high resolution encoder in a miniature but robust translation stage.
With high speed performance for both long travel and nanometre to micron range incremental moves, Nanomotion's motorised z-axis autofocus stage provides a complete vertical positioning and focusing solution for automated microscope and imaging applications Available exclusively in the UK from Heason Technology, the compact stage is easily adapted to standard or custom microscope mechanics and is available with a wide range of matching servo drives and motion controls
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 2 Mar 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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The z axis autofocus stage assembly combines Nanomotion's unique standing wave, inverse piezoelectric ceramic motor technology and a high resolution encoder in a miniature but robust translation stage housing with integral precision bearings and a spring counterbalance.
The zero backlash, direct-drive stage features a travel range to 25mm, selectable standard resolution from 10 to 100nm (with 1nm optional), a wide dynamic speed range (up to 250mm/s) and static loading to 400g.
Nanomotion's ceramic servomotor technology suits the demands of high-speed move and settle positioning required by microscope focusing applications, providing a typical focusing move of 1 to 10um in under 5ms, settling within 100nm.
Ultrafast settling times and the inherent ability to lock the stage's position at rest and under power-of conditions ensures excellent levels of optical stability with minimal thermal drift.
Typical applications for the z-axis autofocus stage include managing the demanding high speeds, accelerations and positioning reversals in cell terrain imaging, semiconductor and biomedical microscopy, and on-the-fly focusing.
The stage may also be used in a horizontal orientation for step and repeat imaging.
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