Positioning Stages, Slides and Guides

Ball Screws (237 suppliers)

Ball screws convert rotary motion to linear motion, or torque to thrust, and vice versa. They are primarily a power screw with a train of ball bearings riding between the screw and the nut in a recirculating track.

Ball Slides (101 suppliers)

Ball slides are simple linear motion devices that provide smooth linear motion, accurately controlled by the rotation of the drive mechanism.

Ball Splines (36 suppliers)

Ball splines provide nearly friction-free linear motion while simultaneously transmitting torsional loads. The path of the bearing balls is straight, not helical, which allows for a very efficient coupling device suitable for a variety of applications.

Crossed Roller Slides (82 suppliers)

Crossed roller slides are simple linear motion devices that consist of a stationary base and a moving carriage. The rollers are crossed at a 90° angle in an alternating fashion and are enclosed in the rails, which have a machined V-shaped groove to support the rollers.

Dovetail Slides (28 suppliers)

Dovetail slides are linear motion devices that allow motion and positioning along a linear axis.

Electric Rotary Actuators (184 suppliers)

Electric rotary actuators drive components rotationally via electromagnetic power. They typically have control and indexing capabilities.

Feed Escapements (21 suppliers)

Feed escapements are used for individually feeding parts from hoppers, conveyors, magazines, tracks, and vibratory feeders.

Gimbals (22 suppliers)

Gimbals are mechanisms that allow an object to pivot or rotate around an axis. Two or three gimbals may be mounted within each other to allow rotation independent of the gimbal support.

Hydraulic Rotary Actuators (167 suppliers)

Hydraulic rotary actuators use a pressurized, incompressible fluid to rotate mechanical components.

Index Drives (23 suppliers)

Index drives are used to start and stop a table, conveyor or other equipment at precise intervals. Types of index drives include cam index drives, ring index drives, and roller gear index drives.

Lead Screws and ACME Screws (66 suppliers)

Lead screws and ACME screws are used to drive a nut in linear motion via direct contact between the screw and the nut. Lead screws usually incorporate proprietary screw and nut geometries and materials, and can be configured in zero-backlash arrangements.

Linear Actuators (756 suppliers)

Electric linear actuators have an output rod that provides linear motion via a motor driven ball screw, lead screw or ACME screw assembly. The actuator's load is attached to the end of a screw or rod and is often unsupported.

Linear Bearings (330 suppliers)

Linear bearings are used in applications where a component needs to be moved along a straight line with high accuracy.

Linear Slides and Linear Stages (483 suppliers)

Linear slides are simple linear motion devices composed of a stationary base and a moving carriage. Linear stages are slides with a drive mechanism that provide controlled, precise positioning along a linear axis.

Motion Simulators and Rate Tables (22 suppliers)

Motion simulators are designed to simulate the motion that an object will be subjected to. Motion simulators can be used for a variety of applications, such as the evaluation and testing of sensors and inertial components and systems, and vehicle or flight system testing or training.

Multi-axis Positioning Systems (151 suppliers)

Multi-axis positioning systems make use of linear, rotary and goniometric stages, slides and drives in various combinations to create standard and custom positioning systems.

Piezoelectric Actuators (60 suppliers)

Piezoelectric actuators are devices that produce a small displacement with a high force capability when voltage is applied.

Pneumatic Rotary Actuators (205 suppliers)

Pneumatic rotary actuators use pressurized air to rotate mechanical components.

Rack and Pinion Drives (30 suppliers)

Rack and pinion drives use a rotational motor to affect linear motion via a rack and pinion combination. They are used frequently in long-travel applications, such as machine tool table positioning, that require high stiffness and accuracy.

Roller Screws (26 suppliers)

Roller screws convert rotary to precise linear motion in a similar manner to ball screws or lead screws. Due to the greater number of contact points of the rollers compared to balls or thread on thread contact, a roller screw provides higher stiffness and smooth motion.

Rotary Stages (135 suppliers)

Rotary positioning stages are devices with tables or shafts that may be rotated to any angular position. They may be driven or simple slides.