What are stages
Basic Structure, features, and classification of a manual stage.
Basic information about the stage
We will explore what defines a manual stage, its merit, and classification by movement direction.
Basic Components of the stage
A stage is a platform that moves a component to a specified position, and can easily be fixed in position. It consists of a guide, feed, clamp, moving surface, and fixed surface. Stages are often used for camera positioning, fiber alignment, sample inspection, analysis jigs, etc. There are stages capable of linear motion, elevation, rotation, and angular motion. Multiple movement directions can be achieved by combining different stage types.
Benefits of the stage
Misumi stages have advantages over in-house adjustment products. Here are a few:
1. Reduction in labor hours.
You can easily and accurately adjust the position of cameras, sensors, and other workpieces. Micron unit adjustment can be a delicate task, but is easily achieved with a micrometer head.
2. Numerical management / reproducibility
By using a stage with a scale, on-site workers can adjust it to a specified position, making it ideal for applications that require reproducibility, such as setup changes on factory production lines.
3. Quicker design time.
By using our stages as standard items, product design and assembly time is reduced.
4. Space saving
Our stages tend to be smaller than jigs designed in-house. There are also stages designed with a low profile to save space.
Classification by stage movement direction
Stages can classified by two types: linear motion and rotational motion. These two types can also be combined to achieve motion is all directions.
Basic mechanisms of a linear motion stage (three mechanisms)
Linear motion stages have three primary mechanisms that can distinguish them. Guide, feed, and clamp. We will explain these mechanisms.
Main guide mechanism
The mechanism that guides the direction of surface motion. They vary in accuracy, rigidity, and construction material.
| Dovetail | Cross roller | Linear ball | |
| Guide structure |  |
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| Surface contact guide mechanism using trapezoidal cross sections fitted together. | A guide mechanism in which cylindrical rollers are arranged alternately between V-groove rails that are fixed to the upper and lower plates of the stage. | A guide mechanism in which steel balls are lined up between the Gothic arc groove rails directly machined into the upper and lower plates of the stage. | |
| Main material | Brass / aluminum alloy | Aluminum alloy | Stainless |
| Rigidity | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Movement accuracy | Fair | Good | Excellent |
| Lightness of the main body | Good | Good | Fair |
| Stroke | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Price | Excellent | Good | Fair |
| Features | ・ Ideal for projects that that require a lower cost and/or long stroke without micrometer level accuracy. | ・ Highly accurate and reasonable price ・ Ideal for precision positioning |
・ Highest accuracy due to the integrated structure of the guide groove and housing ・ High rigidity, high load capacity, and long life made of SUS |
Main feed mechanism
The mechanism that moves the stage surface to its desired position. Selection depends on the application and needed accuracy.
| Guide mechanism | Dovetail | Cross roller linear ball | ||||
| Feed mechanism | Rack-and-pinion | Lead screw | Micrometer head | Coarse and fine movement micrometer head |
Digital micrometer head |
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| A feed mechanism that combines a plate gear called a rack gear and a cylindrical gear called a pinion gear. | A feed mechanism that uses a combination of a screw and a nut which converts the rotation of the screw into a linear motion with the nut. | A feed mechanism that enables fine adjustment in units of 0.01 mm by integrating the scale on the outer circumference of the cylinder. | A two step adjustment feed mechanism. Position can be adjusted on a coarse scale or a fine scale. | Micrometer head with a digital display./td> | ||
| Minimum reading accuracy | Depends on the scale of the stage upper and lower plates | 10 μm | 0.5 μm | 1 μm | ||
| Handle 1 rotation movement amount |
17-20mm | 0.5-10mm | 0.5mm, 1mm | 0.5mm | 0.025mm, 0.5mm | 0.5mm |
| Features | ・ Suitable for long strokes and rapid movement. ・ Great if quick adjustments. |
・ The amount of movement per rotation of the handle can be selected according to the application. ・ It takes up less space than a micrometer head. |
・ Precise adjustment at affordable price. | ・ Most precise adjustment possible. | ・ Digital display enables position reading that does not depend on the subjectivity of the operator | |
Main clamping mechanism
A mechanism for fixing the stage surface at the adjusted position. The standard clamp type is common, but the clamp mechanism can be selected for some products.
| Guide mechanism | Common | Dovetail | Cross roller linear ball | |||
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| Clamp mechanism | Standard clamp | Dovetail groove standard clamp | Lever type clamp | Split tightening clamp | Disc clamp | Opposed clamp |
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| Clamp plate is pressed against the stage by a clamp screw. | Internal dovetail clamp plate is pressed against the stage by a clamp screw. | A lever is attached to the clamp screw for tightening. | The feed shaft is clamped directly preventing further motion. | Clamping force is applied to a disc on the outside of the stage. | A bolt and nut on the opposite side of the feed acts as a hard stop. | |
| Holding power | Fair | Fair | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Features | ・ Low cost, standard clamping method. | ・ Low cost, standard clamping method. | ・ Engaged with little force and no tools. Strong holding force. | ・ The holding force is improved by stopping the feed handle itself. ・ Can be used in conjunction with standard clamp to prevent drift. |
・ The disc is separate from the stage, and will not cause any drift. Holding force is also higher than standard. | ・ High holding force that is resistant against vibration. |
Precautions regarding clamps:
Most clamps work by applying friction by tightening the clamp plate onto the screw. If an external force exceeds the coefficiant of friction, the surface will move. Please take this under consideration during the design phase.
The following clamp mechanisms are designed to prevent movement from excess force.
・ Split tightening clamp
・ Opposed clamp
Product example
MISUMI offers stages with various combinations of guide mechanism, feed mechanism, and clamp mechanism.
Please see the table below as a guide for selection based on your needs.
Other linear motion stages
Simplified adjustment unit
Simple, low cost linear motion when accuracy isn't required.
Suitable for replacing slot adjustment mechanisms, and other in-house positioning adjustments.
| Key guide type | Left and right screw type | Set screw type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance / mechanism |  |
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| Simple adjustment via key and groove mechanism. | Simple adjustment unit that moves two surfaces in opposite directions by rotating right and left handed feedscrews on different sides of the screw shaft. | Simple set screw and spring device that eliminates backlash by using the spring. | |
| Guide | Key guide | Ground joint | Shaft slide |
| Send | Lead screw | Left and right screws | Set screw + spring |
| Clamp | Hexagon socket head cap screw | Left and right screw rotation stop | (none) |
| Features | ・ Once position is adjusted the unit can stay in place by tightening the bolts. Ideal for adustments that primarily stay in place. | ・ Opposite movement can be achieved at a low cost. ・ High load capacity (196N or 20kgf). |
・ Suitable for simple adjustements. ・ Load capacity limited due to use of spring to eliminate backlash. |
| Representative product | XKYF / XKYL | XANON | XKNG |
Horizontal Z stage
Stage can adjust height while maintaining a level surface.
| Rack & pinion type | Lever type | Lab jack | Helicoid screw type | |
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| Appearance / mechanism |  |
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| Feed rotation is transferred to lever action to produce vertical motion. | Vertical motion by turning outer cylinder. | |||
| Guide | Dovetail | Cross roller | pantograph | Helicoid screw |
| Send | Rack-and-pinion | Micrometer / lead screw | ||
| Clamp | Dovetail groove standard | Standard | Split tightening | Clamp screw |
| Features | ・ Fast feed speed ・ Ideal for rapid adjustment. |
・ Ideal for high-precision applications. *Due to the structural characteristics, the amount shown on the micrometer might deviate slightly from the amount of lift achieved. |
・ Large surface and high load capacity. Reliable positioning with split-tightening clamp. *Due to the structural characteristics, vertical movement per one knob rotation will have position deviation. |
・ Long stroke, high load capacity comparable to lab jack. ・ High precision ・ Ideal for optical applications. |
| Representative product | ZLFG | ZLPG , ZLPGS | ZLJG | ZHRD |
Rotating stage, Gonio Tilt stage
Rotating stage
The stage surface rotates around a center of rotation located on the stage surface.
Suitable for changing the direction of equipment and adjusting the rotation of workpieces.
| Ground joint type | Cross roller bearing type | |
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| Appearance / mechanism |  |
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| Moving surface and fixed surface are always in contact. | Cross roller bearing installed between moving surface and fixed surface reducing the area of contact resulting in smooth motion and finer positioning. | |
| Guide | Ground joint | Cross roller bearing |
| Feed | Micrometer head | |
| Clamp | Clamp screw + facing clamp | |
| Features | -Not suitable for precision positioning due to gaps -The main body is made of aluminum alloy and is lightweight |
・ Suitable for precision positioning ・ High rigidity due to stainless steel material |
| Representative product | RTRM / RTRS , RPG | RPGS |
Gonio (tilt) stage, tilt stage
The goniometer stage is a stage that has a center of rotation on the vertical line in the center of the stage surface and operates in an arc.
The tilt stage is a stage that has a center of rotation on the internal support support and tilts in the direction of tilt.
Suitable for adjusting the posture of equipment and tilting of workpieces.
| Goniometer stage | Tilt stage | ||
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| Dovetail groove type | Cross roller type | Support guide type | |
| Appearance / mechanism |  |
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| Worm gear and worm wheel mechanism is used to move the surface in an arc motion. | The cross roller guide is an arc shape that moves the surface in an arc motion. | Can tilt on 2 axes by using precision screws as fulcrums. | |
| Guide | Ant groove | Cross roller | Prop |
| Feed | Worm gear | Micrometer head | Set screw + spring |
| Clamp | Standard clamp | Opposed clamp | |
| Features | ・ Fast feed speed ・ Optimal when you want to shorten the adjustment time ・ Not suitable for precision positioning |
-Suitable for precision positioning with no gaps | ・ It is a convenient mechanism for simple adjustment of the tilt direction of the Z axis. |
| Representative product | GFG , GFWG | GPG , GPWG | TLSG |