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Linear Motorized Stages
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost invariably all motorized linear stages have gear mechanisms (dove-tail bearings, crossed-roller slides, etc.) which are lubricated by special grease. Depending on the type of the grease they may or may not evaporate under low pressure. Special types of grease, O-rings and sealants are used for vacuum compatible stages to survive extremely low pressure environments.
The main difference between a servo motor and stepper motor is in the fashion of motion. In a servo motor the motion happens on a continuous fashion and requires a special encoder and a feedback loop to precisely know the position of the translation stage at any given point in time. In contrast, stepper motor operates in a discrete fashion, moving from one position to another and thus can locate the position by simply counting the steps.
The main advantage of the servo motor is the continuously smooth movement along the motion axis. Built correctly they can offer the ultimate performance for the most demanding motion control applications. This advantage comes with a cost of a more complicated set up that requires an encoder and a feedback loop to measure the position accurately. Understandably it also comes with a higher price tag. With the same token, the stepper motors are simpler in construction and are usually cheaper.
In the context of linear motorized stages, they simply mean the position of the driver shaft relative to the body of the stage. If the shaft is pushing the translation stage from the center, it is referred to as center-driven. Likewise for left/right aligned shafts they are called left-driven or right-driven.
Most manufacturers will quote both the horizontal and vertical load capacities. It is very important to operate those stages within these specified values. Otherwise all other parameters, such as reproducibility, accuracy, velocity linearity, etc. will become void. In extreme cases you might even stall or even damage the drive train.
Yes it is possible to stack two or more linear motorized stages to achieve multi-axis motion control. However in doing so, you should carefully calculate the load capacities to ensure that you are staying with the manufacturer specified ranges.
Motorized linear stages are highly precise sophisticated instruments. Depending on their specifications, construction material, type of motor used the prices will vary from under $1,000 to upwards of $10,000. Price will be higher if you include a separate controller and other accessories. For any specific product posted on FindLight please contact the respective supplier form the specific product page.
Encoders are electronic feedback devices that give precise information about the location of the drive shaft during the motion of stage. This is an important component in a servo motor driven motorized stage.
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