Positioning stages from OES now serve applications involving pitch-and-roll for micromachining, aligning mirrors (in scanning-electron microscopes), rotating objects to precise positions, and measuring angles of objects such as crystals.

The stages are also suitable for applications that need to move objects to precise angular positions along an arc — for examining the cutting edges of medical instruments; estimating measurements of the radiation patterns of LEDs; detecting hyperspectral bidirectional reflectance; and providing other orthogonal rotation of objects.

OES’ expanded series of pitch-and-roll stages meet the requirements of applications needing angle ranges of 20° (±10°), 30° (±15°), and 90° (± 45°) for height of rotation, size (footprint), and load capacity.

• Accuracies for each stage are to a repeatability of ± 4 min. (240 arc-sec)

• Positional accuracies are to ± 8 min. (480 arc-sec)

• Backlash is ± 3 min. (180 arc sec)

The precision pitch-and-roll stages are available with either stepper motors with knobs for manual adjustment, or quadrature optical encoders on stepper motors for position verification. They are also available servo motors for closed loop operation and higher operating speed. The Pitch-and-Roll Stages can be supplied plug-and-play with a motion controller. Any of the Stacked Pitch-and Roll Stages are easily integrated into an inspection, testing, or manufacturing environment.

Optimal Engineering Systems, Inc. (OES) is a manufacturer of motion control products including stepper motor controllers and drivers, solenoid electronics, and positioning stages and slides. For more information, visit oesincorp.com.