State of the Art Air Bearing Gantry System

MOTION CONTROL: Steinmeyer, Inc. announced a new precision, multi- axis air bearing gantry system.  This motion system consists of an XY stage utilizing air bearings plus a conventional ball screw driven Z table.  It is ideal wherever there is a need for ultra high precision and outstanding dynamic performance.  Typical uses include:

-          laser machining

-          inspection systems

-          pick and place devices

-          dispensing systems, and

-          gene chip production equipment.

These stages (which may be completely customized) achieve the following standard XY specifications: travel is 600 mm X 600 mm, positional accuracy is 10 microns, positioning repeatability is +/- 1 micron, straightness and flatness is 1 micron.  Both X and Y stages are driven by ironless, electrodynamic linear motors with maximum acceleration of 10 m/s² and velocity of 1000 mm/s.   Position feedback is accomplished via an incremental linear encoder with a resolution of 50 nm.  Typical Z stage performance includes: 25 to 200 mm travel; positional accuracy of 10 microns; and repeatability of +/- 1 micron.  A separate motion control option is available based on customer specifictions.

­-Edited by Kelsey Anderson