Introduction
Aerotech’s Nanotranslation Crossed-Roller (ANT-LX) stages
are the best in class in combining speed, accuracy,
resolution, repeatability, reliability, and size. As an evolution
of the popular ANT stage family, ANT-LX linear stages exhibit
enhanced motion performance over Aerotech’s first generation
ANT series. Product improvements such as 5 g acceleration, 500
mm/s velocity, enhanced load capacity, and standardized, universal
base mounting patterns allow the use of this flexible stage family
in an even wider range of configurations than its predecessors.
Noncontact Direct-Drive
All of the original ANT series’ direct-drive advantages
have been preserved in the LX family. Only noncontact direct-drive
technology offers the robust, accurate, and high-speed positioning
necessary for mass production of precision devices. ANT-LX stages
utilize advanced direct-drive technology pioneered by Aerotech
to achieve the highest level of positioning performance. This
direct-drive technology is high-performance, non-cogging, noncontact,
high-speed, high-resolution, and high-accuracy, and the use of
crossed-roller bearing elements allows even higher precision,
smaller incremental moves to be accomplished reliably and repeatably.
This unique drive and bearing combination, packaged in an extremely
small-profile footprint, offers tangible advantages in many applications
such as fiber alignment, optical delay element actuation, and
scanning processing demanding smooth motion.
Flexible System Design
The ANT-LX family has universal mounting and tabletop patterns
that allow for easy system integration. Two, three, or more axes
can be easily combined for flexible system designs and multi-axis
configurations. Both 25 mm and 50 mm travel versions are available
and can be integrated without the need for interface plates, preserving
low profile system designs.
System Characteristics
Outstanding accuracy, position repeatability, and in-position
stability require high system resolution. The ANT-LX stage’s
industry-leading 2.5 nm or better closed-loop resolution provides
this high level of performance. Advanced, real-time axis calibration
systems allow the highest level of system accuracy. High-speed,
40 MHz electronic circuitry enables extremely fast positioning,
over 500 mm per second, even at 2.5 nanometer resolution. Excellent
in-position stability, assisted by high-quality, no-creep linear
bearings, enables virtually maintenance-free operation over the
life of the product. Aerotech’s direct-drive technology
has no hysteresis or backlash, enabling accurate and repeatable
nanometer-scale motion.
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