Citation
(2007), "New ANT-LX miniature translation stage delivers 2.5nm resolution with 5g acceleration and 500mm/s velocity", Assembly Automation, Vol. 27 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2007.03327dad.004
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
New ANT-LX miniature translation stage delivers 2.5nm resolution with 5g acceleration and 500mm/s velocity
New ANT-LX miniature translation stage delivers 2.5nm resolution with 5g acceleration and 500mm/s velocity
1 Second generation sub-micron positioning stage doubles resolution, speed and acceleration performance.
2 Turnkey solution for fibre optic, sensor, MEMS and nanotechnology positioning.
Aerotech's new ANT-LX nanotranslation stages (Figure 4) provide new levels of sub-micron positioning performance by combining advanced real-time axis calibration with high performance direct-drive linear servo motors, non-contact optical encoders and linear drive amplifiers. This unique technology offers a significant throughput advantage over conventional lead screw and piezo drive based mechanical systems and this second generation design now has twice the resolution and speed capability of its predecessor – the successful ANT-25 and -50 series – thanks to improved crossed-roller bearings and new advanced 40MHz encoder processing.
Figure
4 The ANT-LX miniature translation stage from Aerotech
Used with a dedicated version of Aerotech's A3200 Automation Platform motion control system, the ANT-LX has a maximum resolution of just 2.5nm and a calibrated positional accuracy of ±0.3mm with a top-speed performance of 500mm/s and acceleration to 5g. Repeatability is within ±0.05mm with differential straightness and flatness specifications to 3.0mm per 25mm of travel with a maximum deviation of ±1.0mm.
The compact unit measures just 90mm wide and 33mm high with an overall working length of less than 130mm for the 25mm travel version and under 200mm for the 50mm travel version. Maximum load is 8kg and X-Y, X-Y-Z or other mechanical configurations are made easy with matching fixed base and moving carriage hole patterns. The ANT-LX range may also be assembled with other ANT series stages (vertical lift, rotary and goniometer) to create complete multi-axis motion platforms.
To meet and exceed the exceptionally smooth motion characteristics required for m level incremental moves and velocity-critical scanning applications, the ANT-LX features an Aerotech's cog-free direct-drive brushless linear servo motor driven with a state-of-art linear amplifier. This combination provides the ultimate in low noise, ultra quiet performance with integral resolution multiplication for the 20mm pitch, sinusoidal output linear encoders.
Low profile, precision crossed-roller bearing elements provide improved load and increased acceleration capability. The housing is black anodised aluminium with a hardcoat finish for extra durability and includes ample threaded inserts for customer fixture mounting.
The ANT-LX is aimed at high- throughput production and test applications in fibre optics, photonics, MEMS and sensor manufacture and may also be applied to any application where high-positional resolution and precision excellence is required at a competitive price. The long life, low- maintenance profile of the ANT-LX will be of interest to OEM's and machine builders who require low cost of ownership, future proof, fit and forget motion systems.
Aerotech's A3200 Automation Platform is a software only controller that harnesses PC based processing power for tightly synchronised motion and machine control. For ANT-LX dedicated applications, the controller uses the IEEE-1394 Firewire® protocol to provide fully deterministic, high-speed, distributed control in combination with Aerotech's Ndrive HL linear servo amplifiers for the required axis count in combination with all I/O and machine interfacing functions. The 32-axis A3200 is also available with a range of “soft” machine control modules for HMI, Vision and PLC which may be integrated into the customers' application. Motion and machine control commands may be accessed in C, C++ and Visual Basic® or in Aerotech's own AeroBASICe. Alternatively, the optional Ncontrol® SDK software development kit may be used to program the unit with Windows® based ActiveX components, Cþþ VB and.NET class libraries to help to reduce programming time and simplify system integration.
Aerotech supply ANT-LX systems complete with interconnecting cables, motor parameter set-up data, performance documents and assembly information to speed commissioning and help integrators with their own system documentation.
For more information, please contact at: cjolliffe@aerotech.co.uk