ABL1000 Air-Bearing, Direct-Drive Linear Stage

Description

Key Features

• High-resolution position feedback contributes to excellent repeatability & velocity stability
• Fully contactless, frictionless design offers the ultimate reliability & longevity
• Ideal for use in cleanroom environments
• Configurable as XY & XYZ assemblies  for precise, multi-axis motion
• Available with optional, user-adjustable counterbalance for vertical operation

Key Applications

ABL1000 is ideal for applications that require ultra-precise motion, including:

• Fiber alignment, assembly & advanced packaging
• Active alignment of photonic devices
• Metrology & inspection
• Semiconductor manufacturing & inspection
• Wafer processing
• Synchrotron, beamline & other research applications

The Aerotech Air-Bearing Advantage

ABL1000 linear air-bearing stages feature a fully preloaded, noncontact design in a compact form factor.  Inherently frictionless, air bearings offer numerous benefits in high-precision applications—ultra-smooth scanning performance, excellent velocity stability, outstanding repeatability and geometric performance, and more.  Driven by a noncontact linear brushless servomotor, this stage proves the ultimate solution whether the application requires small, accurate steps or constant smooth velocity. Superior magnetic field and motor coil design result in the highest force output of any miniature air-bearing stage. This stage offers superior servo performance and features a robust and perturbation-free cable management system.  For maximum performance and longevity, ask about our ABF Air Bearing Filtration Kit—it cleans and conditions the supply air and features an optional low-pressure switch to protect the stage in the event of air pressure loss. 

Noncontact Direct-Drive Technology

Only noncontact direct-drive technology offers the robust, accurate and high-speed positioning necessary for mass production of precision devices. ABL1000 stages are driven by ironless linear motors, which means there is zero cogging and no attractive forces, resulting in unsurpassed smoothness of motion and excellent velocity stability.

Zero Maintenance

Our totally noncontact air bearing, noncontact linear motor drive and noncontact feedback device ensure years of maintenance-free operation at the high performance you expect from Aerotech equipment. Because there is no mechanical contact between moving elements, the ABL1000 experiences no wear or reduction in performance over time. Service life is virtually unlimited and since there is no lubrication – only clean, dry gas – air bearings are ideal for cleanroom and medical applications.

Cable Management

We carefully optimize the cable bend radius to ensure years of trouble-free operation. In particular, the cable management system (CMS) is engineered to have minimal influence on the moving carriage. We include all customer-required cables, air hoses, etc. in our cable management system to facilitate simple, straightforward integration into the final system or machine.