XY Stages

Below is a selection of automation products from our portfolio, and each can be modified and configured to meet your specific needs. If you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, contact us. We can help you identify the right motion positioning stage solution for your application.

About XY Translation Stages

While a number of positioning actuator applications can be addressed with single-axis translation stages, the majority of customer payloads require motion in two axes, for which we use an XY translation stage, also called an XY table. In its simplest configuration, an XY stage can be assembled by simply bolting two single-axis stages together. In that case, care must be taken to ensure that the axes are truly orthogonal. The preferred implementation is to make a true XY stage in which the orthogonality is precision-machined into its component parts. In this type of XY translation stage design, the top of the lower axis serves as the base for the upper axis, in a simple and compact three-piece design. All of our actuators can be mounted in an XYZ configuration for vertical applications.

XY linear stages can be designed with a wide range of guideways including:

• Ball
• Crossed roller
• Recirculating profile rails
• Air bearings

Similarly, they can be actuated in a variety of ways including:

• Friction screws
• Ball screws
• Belts and pulleys
• Linear motors

XY linear stages with air bearings and linear motors provide some of the highest levels of performance available. The only assembly more precise is called a planar gantry design.

Planar Gantry Systems

In a planar gantry system, the front to back axis consists of two individual axes, one on the left and one on the right, just as in the vertical lines of the letter “H.” A third axis runs left to right, as in the horizontal line of the letter “H,” and is driven at each end by the front to back axes. The payload carrier runs left to right along the third axis, but rests on a planar air bearing floating a few microns above a large area planar substrate (typically extremely flat granite). In a planar air bearing gantry stage, Z axis errors, as well as pitch and roll, are completely determined by the flatness of the granite substrate. Yaw can be controlled by fine flexural movements of the two ends of the third axis.

In many applications, an additional Z axis is required. This can either be added atop the XY stage, forming an XYZ stage, or the Z stage can be mounted separately, and control a payload relative to a separate customer part on the XY stage.

We have experience working with a variety of XY stage configurations and pride ourselves on being able to work within our clients’ parameters to help them reach their goals. Contact us today to learn how Dover Motion can configure the right motion solution for your application.