Cradle Positioning / Goniometer Rotary Stages
Goniometers are rotary stages that rotate objects to a precise angular position about a fixed axis. A cradle positioning/goniometer stage shares some similarities with the linear stage. However, instead of moving objects linearly, the goniometer stage platform rotates about a point and above a mounting surface. This rotary stage device is so precise that the rotation angle can be as small as a few arcseconds and as large as 90°.
The goniometric stage comes in different designs. Nevertheless, a common feature with all designs is the incorporation of a drive mechanism and a low-friction guide. The drive mechanism is usually a worm gear with ratios as high as 300:1, which is crucial for attaining fine positioning. The high-ratio worm gear is usually driven with a servo motor or by hand using a micrometer.
A goniometric stage’s drive mechanism could also be a ball screw or lead screw. Unlike the worm gear versions, the ball and lead screw designs consist of small leads that are driven by a servo motor. However, a common problem plaguing all lead screws is called backlash, which causes wear and inaccurate positioning. Most lead screw versions are designed with an anti-backlash nut to compensate for backlash.
Specifications
- Guide mechanism can be a crossed roller guide or a curved dovetail bearing.
- Drive mechanism can be a worm gear, lead screw, ball screw or a direct drive motor.
- Load capacity describes the maximum load that the device is designed to carry. The load capacity of most goniometers can be as small as 2 kg and as high as 50 kg.
- Repeatability describes the range of positions attained when the goniometer is repeatedly commanded to one specific angular position. It is a measure of the goniometer’s ability to position to the same target value sequentially. Goniometer’s repeatability ranges from 0.0014° to 0.005°.
- Accuracy describes the closeness of the goniometer’s positioning to the actual angular position. Goniometer’s accuracy typically ranges from 0.0139° to 0.025°.
Applications
Goniometer rotary stages are commonly used in micromachining applications where very high precision is needed. They are also often used in laboratories for directing lasers and aligning lenses in scanning electron microscopes.
from Daheng New Epoch Technology, Inc.
A goniometer stage is a device used to rotate an object precisely, within a small angular range, about a fixed point in space. Goniometers are similar to linear stages, but, rather than providing linear movement, the stage partially rotates about a fixed point above the mounting surface of the... [See More]
- Stage Type: Cradle Positioning / Goniometer
- Load Capacity: 5.51
- Drive Type: Manual/Crank Handle
- Length: 40 to 65
from PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P.
Uni-directional repeatability down to 0.0005 °. Maximum speed 15 °/sec. Load capacity up to 2 kg. Integrated limit switches. Optionally: angular scale. Clear aperture 60 mm x 25 mm. Precise, smooth continuous 10 ° motion. Together with WT-85 one center of rotation. The goniometer stages... [See More]
- Stage Type: Cradle Positioning / Goniometer
- Drive Mechanism: Direct Drive
- Drive Type: Stepping Motor
- Load Capacity: 3.37 to 4.5
from Daheng New Epoch Technology, Inc.
A goniometer stage is a device used to rotate an object precisely, within a small angular range, about a fixed point in space. Goniometers are similar to linear stages, but, rather than providing linear movement, the stage partially rotates about a fixed point above the mounting surface of the... [See More]
- Stage Type: Cradle Positioning / Goniometer
- Load Capacity: 5.51
- Drive Type: Manual/Crank Handle
- Length: 40
from PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P.
Uni-directional repeatability down to 0.001 °. Maximum speed 30 °/sec. Load capacity up to 20 kg. Integrated limit switches. Optionally: angular scale. Hardened worm gear drive. Precise, smooth continuous 90 ° motion. Together with WT-90 one center of rotation. The goniometer stages... [See More]
- Stage Type: Cradle Positioning / Goniometer
- Drive Mechanism: Direct Drive
- Drive Type: Stepping Motor
- Load Capacity: 20.23 to 44.96
from Daheng New Epoch Technology, Inc.
A goniometer stage is a device used to rotate an object precisely, within a small angular range, about a fixed point in space. Goniometers are similar to linear stages, but, rather than providing linear movement, the stage partially rotates about a fixed point above the mounting surface of the... [See More]
- Stage Type: Cradle Positioning / Goniometer
- Load Capacity: 5.51
- Drive Type: Manual/Crank Handle
- Length: 40
from PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P.
Rotational Range: 10 deg. Maximum Angular Velocity: 15 degrees/second. Payload: 2 kg. Angular Resolution: 0.0001208 deg. Angular Position Reproducibility: 0.0005 deg (unidirectional); ±0.0005 deg (bidirectional). Optional High-Precision Angular Encoder. 30mm Clear Aperture [See More]
- Stage Type: Cradle Positioning / Goniometer
- Drive Mechanism: Direct Drive
- Drive Type: Stepping Motor; AC Motor
- Load Capacity: 4.41
from Daheng New Epoch Technology, Inc.
A goniometer stage is a device used to rotate an object precisely, within a small angular range, about a fixed point in space. Goniometers are similar to linear stages, but, rather than providing linear movement, the stage partially rotates about a fixed point above the mounting surface of the... [See More]
- Stage Type: Cradle Positioning / Goniometer
- Load Capacity: 5.51
- Drive Type: Manual/Crank Handle
- Length: 65
from PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P.
Rotational Range: 90 deg. Maximum Angular Velocity: 15 degrees/second. Payload: 8 kg. Angular Resolution: 0.0001542 deg. Angular Position Reproducibility: 0.001 deg (unidirectional); ±0.001 deg (bidirectional). Optional High-Precision Angular Encoder [See More]
- Stage Type: Cradle Positioning / Goniometer
- Drive Mechanism: Direct Drive
- Drive Type: Stepping Motor; AC Motor
- Load Capacity: 17.64
from Daheng New Epoch Technology, Inc.
A goniometer stage is a device used to rotate an object precisely, within a small angular range, about a fixed point in space. Goniometers are similar to linear stages, but, rather than providing linear movement, the stage partially rotates about a fixed point above the mounting surface of the... [See More]
- Stage Type: Cradle Positioning / Goniometer
- Load Capacity: 5.51
- Drive Type: Manual/Crank Handle
- Length: 50
from Aerotech, Inc.
Design Features. ±45 degrees of rotary positioning with unobstructed 360 degree view of customer load. Stackable design with common rotation point. Precision worm-gear drive for outstanding accuracy and repeatability. Direct encoder option. Horizontal or vertical mounting orientation. High... [See More]
- Stage Type: Cradle Positioning / Goniometer
- Drive Mechanism: Direct Drive
- Drive Type: Brushless Servo
- Load Capacity: 44.1 to 110
from Aerotech, Inc.
Design Features. Noncontact, non-cogging, frictionless direct-drive for zero backlash or hysteresis. High speed (150 degrees/s). High resolution (0.05 arc sec). Excellent in-position stability. Large 20 degree rotation angle. Orthogonal mounting of two cradles provides rotation about the same point. [See More]
- Stage Type: Cradle Positioning / Goniometer
- Drive Mechanism: Direct Drive
- Drive Type: Brushless Servo
- Load Capacity: 3.31 to 176