Manipulation

Introduction

V-Plane® XY and Z Stages

MDC’s V-Plane® modular stages are building block components designed to streamline the implementation of a sample manipulation system. They can be used as stand alone components or combined with other V-Plane® instruments to attain customized motion and manipulation solutions. V-Plane® dual axis XY stages are micrometer driven and guided by cross roller bearing slides. MDC micrometers have unique laser etched plus-minus scales that indicate positive or negative port displacement. V-Plane® single axis stages employ handwheel and worm gear reduction drive mechanisms with linear displacement measured along the stage’s frame mounted scale. Z axis linear travels of up to 36" are available. MDC V-Plane® stages provide precise sample motion and manipulation of samples inside ultrahigh vacuum environments. V-Plane® Z stages can also be fitted with guide tubes to further expand their capabilities.

V-Plane® Guide Tubes

MDC guide tubes provide bellows support for V-Plane® manipulator stages fitted with longstroke bellows as well as secondary rotary and linear motion feedthroughs installed on the stage. Guide tubes mount directly onto VPlane ® manipulator stages fitted with 2-3/4" Del-Seal™ CF port flanges with a bore clearance suitable for the 1.125" guide tube diameter. They are supplied with both rotary and linear bearing supports. Rotary bearings for .250" and .375" diameter shafts are included. For applications requiring sample heating, cooling, high voltage biasing, thermocouple temperature measurements, etc., the guide tube tip has been fitted with two slots 180° apart through which wires or tubes can be fed. Four 1-1/3" and one 2-3/4" Del-Seal™ CF flange accessory ports allow the installation of up to five additional accessory components. When a manipulator stage is not under vacuum or is let up to air with the bellows in some state of compression, the compressed bellows’ spring force may force the bellows to shift off-axis at some point during its travel. The off-axis shift could be sudden and violent causing user injury or damage to the bellows. MDC recommends that all longstroke 1.50" diameter bore Z axis V-Plane® stages, with linear travels exceeding six inches, be fitted with guide tubes.

Rotatable Axis Stages

Rotatable axis stages replace conventional rotatable mounting tables previously offered by MDC. They provide 360° positioning with greater precision, control and ease of use. Rotatable stages are constructed with worm gear drive mechanisms which offer substantial mechanical advantage over nongeared designs, a feature which allows effortless manual operation, even under a full vacuum load. High torque stepper motors are also available for these stages. MDC rotatable stages can be used to rotate heavy samples or sample support apparatus and structures. Two spring energized PTFE face seals are at the heart of the rotatable stage’s sealing mechanism. With provision for differential pumping between the seals, these rotatable stages can be used in UHV environments with bakeout temperatures as high as 200°C.

Standard XY and Z Stages

Standard XYZ stages are large bore stages which incorporate triple axis motion in a single stage. The XY travels are micrometer driven and guided by cross roller bearing slides. MDC micrometers have unique laser etched plus-minus scales that indicate positive or negative port displacement and are available for 0.500" or 1.00" of linear XY displacement. The Z axis employs a handwheel and worm gear reduction drive mechanism with displacement measured along the stage’s frame mounted scale. Z axis linear travels of up to 12" are available. MDC standard stages provide precise sample motion and manipulation of samples inside ultrahigh vacuum environments.

Compact XY and Z Stages

Compact stages are small footprint single or triple axis stages and are ideally suited for applications with limited space. They are available in a Z only or XYZ configuration. They provide the means for precise sample manipulation inside ultrahigh vacuum environments.