SmartStage™ SixAlign™
The Dover Motion SmartStage™ SixAlign™ sets a new standard for high precision photonic alignment. With direct drive on all six (or twelve) axes, performance greatly exceeds those of conventional stepper-gonio or hexapod designs. With servo controls built-in, bulky cabling is eliminated, with only a single stationary cable per SmartStage™ SixAlign™ stage stack.
Key features include:
- Direct Drive on all six axes!
- Stereo Left and Right versions for full 12 DOF alignment
- Virtual Rotation Point, settable with easy to use API
- Resolution: 5 nm linear; 25 micro-degrees (Theta-X and Theta-Y),100 micro-degrees (Theta-Z)
- Non-contact linear and angular motors & encoders
- Stiff, precise crossed roller bearings on all axes
Specifications
SmartStage™ SixAlign™ Specifications
Optical Axis Height:152 to 184 mm, via Y axis position. Home flag at 159 mm.
Stacking Order: Linear X : Linear Z (optical axis): Theta-Y : Linear Y (vertical) : Theta-X : Theta-Z
¹ Testing performed at the customer tool point using a linear and angular laser interferometer (10 kHz sample rate, 1 nm and 1.7 micro-degree resolution).
²Repeatability reflects short-term performance (≤ 20 s). Over longer durations, ambient temperature changes can cause slow position drift.
³ For large linear moves (greater than 2 mm), repeatability is <±150 nm
Description
The Dover Motion SmartStage™ SixAlign™ sets a new standard for high precision photonic alignment. With direct drive on all six (or twelve) axes, performance greatly exceeds those of conventional stepper-gonio or hexapod designs. With servo controls built-in, bulky cabling is eliminated, with only a single stationary cable per SmartStage™ SixAlign™ stage stack. All twelve axes can be quickly programmed using our Motion Synergy API, including our Virtual Rotation Point, and a user friendly GUI.
Whether the components to be aligned are single mode fiber pairs, GRIN collimators, optical waveguides, or linear fiber arrays, the SmartStage™ SixAlign™ assures fast, accurate, and highly repeatable alignment. Unlike designs using steppers, ballscrews, worm gears, or hexapods, the direct-drive technology of the SmartStage™ SixAlign™ supports very fine circular dither motions, which dramatically reduce the time to peak optical power coupling. “The Gradient of the Log of the Gaussian is Linear”! All twelve axes can be quickly programmed using our Motion Synergy™ API, including our Virtual Rotation Point, and a user-friendly GUI. The SmartStage™ SixAlign™ also supports our BeamFind detector, which speeds up first light acquisition.
Applications
Optimized for fiber optic alignment applications.
Downloads
Firmware
Resources
Fiber Alignment Fundamentals
Meet the integrated system that delivers faster, more accurate fiber optic alignment than any algorithm-based approach.
Download NowModern Fiber Alignment Platform Architecture
Explore the OPM-1, laser sources, and BeamFind — the sensing hardware that makes precision alignment possible.
Download NowOptical Power Measurement in Fiber Alignment Systems
Learn how Dover's dedicated analog hardware acquires optical coupling faster than conventional grid-search methods.
Download NowLaser Sources for Fiber Alignment Systems
Discover the analog servo technology that locks onto the true optical power peak in seconds, every time.
Download NowFast First-Light Acquisition in Fiber Alignment
See how Dover Motion's precision motion stages achieve the constant-velocity performance FBG production demands.
Download NowAutomating Peak Optical Alignment
Explore Dover Motion's dual-carriage stages built for the coordinated, constant-velocity motion fused fiber requires.
Download NowStep-by-Step Fiber Alignment Workflow
Understand why direct-drive stages outperform piezo, flexure, and leadscrew alternatives for photonic alignment.
Download NowRequest a Quote
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