Air-Bearing Linear Stages
ABTech’s ultra-precision air-bearing linear stages address the motion needs for a full range of part sizes and weights. Built for the most demanding applications, every air-bearing stage provides ultra-smooth motion, sub-micron accuracy, and absolute repeatability. Designed and manufactured in-house to extremely tight geometric tolerances, air-bearings have no mechanical contacting parts to wear or create drag. This affords forgiveness from minor accidental touchdowns.
Our linear stages come standard with dual element filters and regulators and are commonly used as the core axis in a wide range of applications where smooth and repeatable motion is desired. They are ideal as stand-alone units or as multi-axis assemblies, for position measurements, optical scanning, light machining and grinding, and more.
Configuration Flexibility
Precision motion comes in many forms and applications, each with its own set of pertinent specifications. Diversity in today’s applications creates unique requirements, we provide configuration flexibility as an integral part of our design philosophy. All linear stages can be customized with a variety of options and accessories including motor drives, vacuum carriage top, high-resolution optical encoders, digital readout (DRO) displays, inspection-grade granite surface plates, and more.
In addition to the options and accessories, the material selection of linear stages is a key focus of our applications engineers. For harsher environments, best accuracy, precision, and stability we use hardened stainless-steel air bearing components. If your application requires quick motion with high acceleration and deceleration, we can utilize the weight reduction of hard-coated aluminum construction. Our precision motion experts will work closely with you to configure a linear motion solution that will meet your exact needs.
Features & Benefits
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Accurate, Repeatable, Smooth Motion
Air bearings provide significant advantages over mechanical bearings or other approaches to linear motion. Because they have no mechanical contacting parts to wear or create drag, air-bearings are close to frictionless, providing ultra-smooth, repeatable, and maintenance-free motion. Manufactured with tight geometric tolerances, our standard air bearings stages are able to deliver arcsecond pitch, roll, and yaw.
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Superior Durability
ABTech uses hardened 440C stainless steel components to maximize productivity with applications that require integrating motion systems into production and assembly processes with exposure to harsher environments. The durability of our stages affords forgiveness for minor accidental touchdowns resulting from low oil pressure or excessive loading. If an accident occurs, often the bearing needs repair rather than replacement.
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Configuration Flexibility to Meet Your Specific Needs
Part of our “Pride in Precision” philosophy means providing you with the precise solution needed. We don’t believe in selling our customers more, or less than what their application calls for. Each linear stage is designed and built per your specific needs. There is no standard specification sheet or drawing on our website because each linear stage is uniquely adapted to our customer, therefore expectations are always met and exceeded. No matter how broad our product options are, we realize they don’t address every possible application. Our precision motion experts will work closely with you to configure a rotary motion solution that will meet your exact needs.
Options
• Motor drives and controls
• Encoders and digital readouts (DRO)
• Vacuum carriage top and controller to hold sensitive lightweight parts safely and securely
• Custom bolt patterns
• Rail and Carriage materials
Accessories
• Custom fixturing and work holder tooling
• Gage stands
• MicroTIR electronic gage packages
o µTIR-10: display with single lever-type electronic indicator
o µTIR-11: display with single lever-type electronic indicator and encoder interface
o µTIR-20: display with dual lever-type electronic indicators
o µTIR-21: display with dual lever-type electronic indicators and encoder interface
• Granite surface plates
• Structural steel frames with passive vibration isolation leveling feet
Motor Drive Options
With proper selection and integration of high-performance brushless DC servo motors ABTech’s air bearing linear stages provide ultra-smooth and precise linear motion. The motor drives are designed to accommodate a wide range of precision motion applications such as optical metrology, or machining and grinding.
ABTech’s motion experts will gather your specific requirements and work closely with our motor suppliers to create and select a motor drive that suits your specific application. Whether you need sub-micron position accuracy with minimal settle time and stringent following error specifications, or high-speed constant motion, or a combination of both there is an ABTech linear stage that will meet your needs.
ABTech’s modular design approach facilitates multiple system configurations to optimize the price-for-performance required in your application. Our complete engineering services allow us to respond quickly to provide a solution to your OEM requirements for ultra-precision linear motion.
GET A QUOTE TODAY
Thank you for your interest in ABTech’s ultra-precision measurement tools and services.
Please tell us a little about what you need to accomplish and we will be in touch to discuss any of the additional details that will help you choose your best option.
Thanks a lot for your help. Your rapid, informative correspondence was invaluable. Hopefully I won't be bothering you with any further questions, but it's good to know you're willing. (following remote technical support provided for system installed at the South Pole)Morgan HedgesPost-doctoral Research Associate
Princeton University
Every product we sell exemplifies our company-wide commitment to "Pride in Precision" craftsmanship. To that end, all of our products are designed, manufactured, and tested exclusively by ABTech at our New Hampshire facility.