Products Home / Motorized Stages / 60 mm Linear Translation Stage with Resonant Piezoelectric Motors60 mm Linear Translation Stage with Resonant Piezoelectric Motors
- Linear Stage with Closed-Loop Positioning
- Open Frame Design for OEM Applications
- Control via GUI or ASCII Message Calls
- Fully Integrated Drive Electronics
Direction of Travel
ELL20
Stage Bundle and
Interface Board
Application Idea
The ELL20K Linear Stage Kit positions a hollow roof prism in this optical delay line.
ELLB
Bus Distributor
Please Wait
| Key Specificationsa | ||
|---|---|---|
| Travel | 60.0 mm (2.4") | |
| Positioning Accuracy | 50 µm | |
| Homing Accuracy | 20 µm | |
| Repeatability (100 g Load) | 20 µm | |
| Velocity (Maximum, No Load) | 90 mm/s | |
| Maximum Total Load | 200 g (0.441 lbs) | |
| DC Voltage Input | 4.5 to 5.5 V | |
| Weight of Stage and Bracket | 0.104 kg (0.229 lbs) | |
| Minimum Lifetimeb | 100 km of Travel | |
Thorlabs' Elliptec Technology for OEM
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The ELL20(/M) linear stage shown with key features labeled.
Features
- Ideal for OEMs and Applications Requiring Rapid, Precise Positioning
- Micro-B USB and Picoflex®1 Connectors for Control Signals
- Multi-Drop Serial Communication Protocol Supported
- Linear Stage with One 8-32 (M4) and Four 4-40 (M3) Tapped Holes
- Magnetic Incremental Linear Encoder Used to Position Stage
- Bus Distributer Facilitates Control of up to Four Elliptec® Devices
- ELLC2 Accessory Upgrade Pack Available Below
Driven by Thorlabs' Elliptec piezoelectric resonant motor technology, this linear stage is designed to be a compact solution for OEM applications requiring linear movement. The linear stage is offered as a standalone unit (Item #'s ELL20 and ELL20/M), or as part of a bundle (Item #'s ELL20K and ELL20K/M), which also contains an interface board for manual control of the stage, mounting brackets, power supply, and cables for connecting the stage and interface board to each other and to a PC. Thorlabs also offers the ELLC2 Accessory Pack which can be used to upgrade standalone units to kits. Please note that the ELLC2 Accessory Pack does not include the brackets used in the ELL20K(/M) bundle.
Each stage has one center 8-32 (M4) tapped hole for attaching a single component and the four 4-40 (M3) tapped holes may be used to secure an adapter plate, such as the MMP1(/M) or RB13P1(/M). The stage is lightweight and compact with a mass of 0.069 kg and footprint of 102.3 mm x 67.0 mm when the stage is centered. The full travel range of the stage requires 30 mm of clearance on either side. The closed-loop operation allows the translating platform to be positioned with an accuracy of 100 µm and a repeatability of 60 µm. The key features of the ELL20(/M) stage are shown in the image to the right.
The motor is highly dynamic and has no gearing. The tips of both motor housings are in firm contact with the plastic track at the base of stage, as can be seen in the image at the right. The motors are installed with opposite orientations and translation in both directions occurs when one motor pushes the track forward while the other pulls it backward. The linear stage is not designed for continuous operation. We recommend operation with duty cycles of 40% or less. When power is not applied to the motors, the stage is held in place by an approximately 1 N combined force exerted by the stationary arms of the motors. Please see The Elliptec® Motor tab for more information.
The open frame format, simplicity, and adaptability of this linear stage make it attractive for OEM applications, as it can be customized according to customer requirements and produced in high-volume quantities. Please contact us to discuss your specific requirements so that we may tailor a solution to meet the needs of your application.
| Elliptec Resonant Motor Products | |||||
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| Multi-Position Sliders | 28 mm Linear Stage | 60 mm Linear Stage | Rotation Stage | Rotation Mount | Motorized Iris |
Control
There are multiple options for powering, driving, and controlling this stage, which are detailed in the Positioning the Linear Stage section of the Operation tab. The stage possesses a 3.3 V serial bus and is designed to be operated with or without the interface board; the Pin Diagram tab provides pin assignments. Thorlabs offers software for our Elliptec products capable of providing full and independent control of the stage. When the interface board is used as an accessory to change the position of the stage, its status in the software is automatically updated.
Multiple Elliptec devices can be controlled using the ELLB Bus Distributor or by splicing multiple connectors onto one ribbon cable. A single bus distributor can connect up to four Elliptec devices; up to 16 devices can be connected if the buses are daisy chained. This bus can be controlled one of three ways: through an interface board (included with the bundles below) to connect to a PC running the Elliptec software, by connecting to an Arduino®2 or Raspberry Pi®3 board, or by wiring the connector pins to a user-supplied control board. Alternatively, up to 16 devices can be spliced onto a single ribbon cord. The devices can then be simultaneously controlled by the interface board or selectively controlled by the Elliptec software. See the manual for instruction on how to splice multiple devices onto a ribbon cord and the Pin Diagrams tab for pin assignments when making custom connections.
- Picoflex is a registered trademark of Molex Incorporated.
- Arduino is a registered trademark of Arduino Sa Société Anonym (SA).
- Raspberry Pi is a registered trademark of the Raspberry Pi Foundation.
| Specificationsa | |
|---|---|
| Performance | |
| Travel | 60.0 mm (2.4") |
| Positioning Accuracy | 50 µm |
| Homing Accuracy | 20 µm |
| Repeatability (With 100 g Load) | 20 µm |
| Velocity (Maximum, No Load) | 90 mm/s |
| Acceleration (Maximum, No Load) | 6.0 m/s2 |
| Minimum Holding Force (Both Motors Engaged) | 1 N |
| Vertical Straightness (Runout)b | 13.0 µm |
| Horizontal Straightness (Runout)b | 13.0 µm |
| Pitch (Over Full Travel Range) | 1.5 mrad |
| Yaw (Over Full Travel Range) | 1.5 mrad |
| Full-Scale Nonlinearity Error | <120 µm |
| Encoder Resolution (Relative Magnetic Encoder) | 0.98 µm |
| Velocity Compensation (No Load)c | 60% to 100% |
| Maximum Total Loadd | 200 g (0.441 lbs) |
| Minimum Lifetimee | 100 km of Travel |
| Electrical | |
| Motor Type | Elliptec® Resonant Piezo |
| DC Voltage Input | 4.5 to 5.5 V |
| Typical Current Consumption, During Movement (No Load) |
0.9 A |
| Typical Current Consumption, During Standby | 0.07 A |
| Communications | |
| Busf | Multi-Drop 3.3 V/5 V TTL RS232 |
| Connector on Linear Stage Board | Picoflex® |
| Speed | 9600 baud |
| Data Length (1 Stop Bit, No Parity) | 8 bit |
| Protocol Data Format | ASCII HEX |
| Module Address and Command Format | Mnemonic Character |
| Mechanical | |
| Mounting Threads (On Stage) | One 8-32 (M4), Four 4-40 (M3) Depth: 0.16" (4 mm) |
| Dimensions of the Linear Stage Board (Without Bracket) |
4.03" x 2.64" x 0.60" (102.3 mm x 67.0 mm x 15.3 mm) |
| Dimensions of the Linear Stage Board (With Bracket) |
4.03" x 2.64" x 0.73" (102.3 mm x 67.0 mm x 18.4 mm) |
| Weight of the Linear Stage Board (Without Bracket) | 0.069 kg (0.152 lbs) |
| Weight of the Linear Stage Board (With Bracket) | 0.104 kg (0.229 lbs) |
| Environmental Operating Conditions | |
| Temperature Range | 15 to 40 °C |
| Maximum Relative Humidity (Non-Condensing) | <80% at 31 °C |
| Maximum Altitude | 2000 m |
Click to Enlarge
Components of the ELL20K(/M) Bundle
(One Region-Specific Power Adapter Included with the Power Supply)
As shown in the image above, a mounting bracket is included with the bundle. The bracket fastens to the underside of the linear stage's PCB with the four included screws. Two slots in the bracket align with the Ø11.0 mm (Ø0.43") holes at either side of the PCB, so that 1/4"-20 (M6) cap screws can be inserted through the holes in the PCB to secure the linear stage board to optical tables and breadboards. The bracket adds 5.0 mm of thickness to the profile of the stage. The drawing below shows the dimensions and mounting features of the stage itself.
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Mechanical Drawing of the Linear Stage
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Mechanical Drawing of the Interface Board
| Connector J1 Pinouta | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pin | Type | Function |
| 1 | PWR | Ground |
| 2 | OUT | ODTX - Open Drain Transmit 3.3 V TTL RS232 |
| 3 | IN | RX Receive - 3.3 V TTL RS232 |
| 4 | OUT | In Motion, Open Drain Active Low Max 5 mA |
| 5 | IN | JOG/Mode, Active Low Max 5 V |
| 6 | IN | BW Backward, Active Low Max 5 V |
| 7 | IN | FW Forward, Active Low Max 5 V |
| 8 | PWR | VCC +5 V ± 10%; 900 mA |
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Pinout diagram of the Picoflex® connector is shown referended to a partial diagram
of the ELL20 Linear Stage Board.
| ELLB Connector J1, J2, J3, and J4 Pinouta,b | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pin | Type | Function |
| 1 | PWR | Ground |
| 2 | OUT | OTDX - Open Drain Transmit 3.3 V TTL RS232 |
| 3 | IN | RX Receive 3.3 V TTL RS232 |
| 4 | OUT | In Motion, Open Drain Active Low Max 5 mA |
| 5 | IN | Not Connected |
| 6 | IN | Not Connected |
| 7 | IN | Not Connected |
| 8 | PWR | VCC +5 V ± 10%; 800 mA per Connected Device |
Click to Enlarge
Pinout diagram of the Picoflex® connector is shown referenced to a simplified diagram
of the ELLB Bus Distributor. The polarity indicator on the connector
must be adjacent to the red wire on the supplied 8-connector cables.
Operation Notes
This tab contains information on handling, mounting, and operating the ELL20(/M) Linear Stage.
Contents- Handling
- Mounting and Loading the Linear Stage
- Supplying Power
- Operation of the Motors
- Homing the Linear Stage
- Positioning the Linear Stage
- Resonant Frequencies
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The ELL20 Linear Stage Board with Adapter Plate RB13P1 Mounted to the Top of the Stage and the Mounting Bracket Attached to the Bottom of the PCB Board
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The Linear Stage (Without the Bracket)
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Features of the Linear Stage
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The Interface Board
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Features of the Interface Board
Handling
The ELL20 linear stage is robust to general handling. To ensure reliable operation, keep the surface of the plastic track contacted by the motors free of oils, dirt, and dust. It is not necessary to wear gloves while handling the linear stage, but avoid touching the track to keep it free of oils from fingerprints. If it is necessary to clean the track, it may be wiped with isopropyl alcohol or mineral spirits (white spirit). Do not use acetone, as this solvent will damage the plastic track.
The open frame format of the ELL20 can tolerate up to 8 kV of static discharge. ESD precautions should be taken, as an electrostatic discharge can produce an electrical signal that may cause unintended movement of the stage. A bending load in excess of 500 g applied to the board may cause the PCB to deform, which will degrade the performance of the linear stage. As readings from a magnetic sensor are used during the homing and positioning of the stage, avoid subjecting the structural PCB to excessive loads or magnetic fields. Limit the strength of magnetic fields in proximity to the magnetic sensor to ±5 mT to avoid negatively affecting the homing and positioning operations.
Mounting and Loading the Linear Stage
The ELL20 linear stage can be operated with the top surface of the stage in the horizontal or the vertical plane. If the latter is chosen, orient the stage so that it moves side to side rather than up and down. A mounting bracket included with the ELL20K(/M) fastens to the underside of the linear stage's PCB with the included four screws. Two slots in the bracket align with the Ø0.43" (Ø11.0 mm) holes at either side of the PCB, so that 1/4"-20 (M6) cap screws can be inserted through the holes in the PCB to secure the linear stage to an optical table or breadboard. Alternately, the bracket can be omitted and the four slotted holes in the PCB used attach the stage to a custom fixture. Ensure that electrically conductive structures are not in contact with the back of the board, as this may cause electrical shorts detrimental to the operation of the stage. When mounting the stage, ensure that the installation does not bend the PCB.
Loads may be mounted to the stage using the 8-32 (M4) or four 4-40 (M3) tapped holes at the center. The spacing of the 4-40 (M3) tapped holes is designed to be compatible with adapter plates such as the MMP1 and RB13P1, as shown in the image to the upper right. The maximum allowed weight of the mounted components is 200 g. In all cases of mounting and loading, ensure that nothing interferes with the moving parts of the linear stage and that the stage and its load are securely fastened to prevent jostling during movement. Jostling of the stage or the load can cause an encoder error.
Supplying Power
When the setup includes the interface board, power may be supplied through the Micro-B USB connector and/or the 5 VDC power socket located on the board. The electronics on the interface board convert the applied DC signal to a sinusoidal signal oscillating at the required resonance frequency.
The ELL20K(/M) bundle includes a 5 VDC power supply whose connector mates with the power socket on the interface board. Delivering power through this socket also allows the Micro-B USB connector to be used for a computer to control the stage remotely. The power supplied by a computer through the USB 2.0 connection is not sufficient to power the stage. If computer control is not necessary, another option for supplying power to the stage is a portable USB 5 V battery pack connected to the Micro-B USB connector on the interface board.
When the implementation does not include the interface board, the connection with the power source is made using the pins on the Picoflex connector that is included on the linear stage board. A pinout diagram of this connector is included in the Pin Diagram tab, and information on powering and addressing the linear stage is given in the manual and the communications protocol manual, respectively.
Operation of the Motors
The motion of the linear stage is controlled by forcing the piezoelectric elements to vibrate at specific ultrasonic frequencies. For each motor, there is an ultrasonic resonant frequency that will push the stage forward, and another that will pull the stage backward. Operating a motor at one of its resonance frequencies causes the tip of the motor to continuously cycle in a tight clockwise elliptical path. When the motor is driven at its other resonant frequency, the tip of the motor cycles through that same path in a counterclockwise direction. Both resonant frequencies are around 100 kHz. The total displacement at the tip of motor is a function of the mechanical load it is driving and the voltage supplied to the piezo element. In the case of no loading and a 5 V maximum driving voltage at a resonant frequency, the tip of the motor expands and contracts by no more than a few microns while tracing the elliptical path. Please see The Elliptec® Motor tab for more information and an animation illustrating the operational principle of the motors.
Homing the Linear Stage
To Home the stage, press the BW button on the interface board, click the Home button in the Elliptec® software's graphical user interface (GUI), or send the appropriate ASCII message as is specified in the communications protocol manual. The stage uses a relative (incremental) magnetic sensor with an encoder resolution of 0.98 µm to home and position the stage. During the procedure to define the default Home position, the stage is translated forward and backward to index the limits of travel. The default Home position is located at the backward limit of the stage's range of motion. If desired, the user may redefine the position of Home to be offset from the default position. Being able to customize the Home position can be useful when synchronizing the orientations of two or more stages.
Positioning the Linear Stage
Note that the linear stage is not intended for continuous operation. We recommend operation with duty cycles of less than 40% during general use, while operation with duty cycles greater than 60% should be limited to a few seconds.
Before the stage may be positioned, the Home position of the stage must be found. Please see the previous section for details. The movement of the stage may be controlled by pressing buttons on the interface board, through computer control via the Elliptec software package that may be downloaded, or by sending simple signals to digital lines on the stage's board. The buttons on the interface board can be seen in the image of the interface board above. A link to download the software and accompanying documentation can be found in the Software tab. The interface board may be used as an accessory while interfacing with the stage through the Elliptec software; all changes in the position of the linear stage that occur as a result of pressing buttons on the interface board are registered by the software, and the software may independently control the linear stage while the interface board is connected.
Multiple Elliptec devices can be be controlled using the ELLB Bus Distributor or by splicing multiple connectors onto one ribbon cable. A single bus distributor can connect up to four Elliptec devices; up to 16 devices can be connected if the buses are daisy chained. This bus can be controlled one of three ways: through an interface board (included with the bundles below) to connect to a PC running the Elliptec software, by connecting to an Arduino® or Raspberry Pi® board, or by wiring the connector pins to a user-supplied control board. Note that if an interface board is used, its on-unit buttons will be disabled. Alternatively, up to 16 devices can be spliced onto a single ribbon cord. The devices can then be simultaneously controlled by the interface board or selectively controlled by the Elliptec software. See the manual for instruction on how to splice multiple devices onto a ribbon cord and the Pin Diagrams tab for pin assignments when making custom connections. The communications protocol manual describes how to use the software to individually address each connected device. A link to download the software and accompanying documentation can be found in the Software tab.
The interface board can be used to move the stage forward and backward in increments by pressing and holding the JOG button while pressing and releasing the FW or BW button, respectively. The default increment is 2 mm, and a custom step size can be set using the Elliptec software or by sending the appropriate ASCII message(s) as specified in the communications protocol manual. The Elliptec software can be used to move the stage to absolute and relative positions, in addition to jogging the stage forward or backward. The software is also used to set the jog step size, read the position of the stage, and adjust the position of Home, as is described in the previous section. The velocity of the stage can be adjusted to a value equal to or greater than 60% of the maximum velocity through use of the ASCII message calls described in the communications protocol manual.
The stage learns to efficiently position itself precisely using a position error compensation algorithm. After the stage moves into a new position, it detects the error between the requested and actual positions. The position of the stage is then corrected, and an error compensation value is calculated. The algorithm is then updated with the error compensation value, so that it is applied when the stage is move to its next position. Typically, an optimum error compensation value is found after between two and six movements.
Resonant Frequencies
On power-up, the factory default setting instructs each motor driving the linear stage to search for the resonant frequencies that will deliver the best performance. During this process, the linear stage will translate forward and backward. If movement on start-up is undesirable, it is possible to disable this calibration procedure by using the serial port to initialize the frequencies on power-up. A new search for optimal resonant frequencies may be performed at any time; to maintain optimal performance, it is recommended that new searches be performed after changes in loading and/or ambient temperature. Please see the manual for details.
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The Components of the Elliptec Motor
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The Elliptec Piezoelectric Resonant Motor
The Elliptec® Piezoelectric Resonant Motor
Thorlabs' Elliptec® piezo resonant motor, shown at right, is lightweight, with a mass of 1.2 g, and compact: the dimensions of the resonator housing, excluding the spring, are 8 mm x 4 mm x 20 mm.
Components of the Motor
The components that compose the motor are shown at far-right. The piezoelectric element is press fit into the aluminum resonator, which has been precisely designed and machined to produce the desired elliptical motion at the tip and to interface optimally with the driven module. The free ends of the spring are integrated with the resonator housing. The wires, which are soldered to the top and bottom of the piezoelectric element, deliver the voltage signal that induces the piezoelectric element to vibrate at ultrasonic frequencies.
When the motor is built into a system, the open loop of the spring is bolted to a sturdy surface that is stationary with respect to the item to be driven, and the tip of the resonator is placed in contact with the item. The purpose of the spring is to maintain constant contact between the tip of the resonator and the driven item, and the direction of motion is determined by the resonance frequency at which the piezo element is driven.
Elliptical Motion and Comparison with Conventional Motors
The motor is operated by driving it at one of its two resonance frequencies. A voltage signal oscillating at an ultrasonic frequency is applied to the piezoelectric chip, which responds by expanding less than a micron and then contracting back to its original dimensions at the frequency of the driving signal. This rapid-cycling change in the chip's dimensions causes a vibration in the aluminum resonator housing. When the vibration is at one of the housing's resonance frequencies, a pushing motion results at the tip of the motor. When the vibration is at the other resonance frequency a pulling motion results.
As illustrated in the video, the pulling and pushing motions result from the tip of the motor tracing an elliptical path in space when the motor operates at resonance. The selected resonance frequency controls the direction of the cyclical motion. The motor's tip traces one half of the ellipse as it expands and the other half as it contracts. When the motor pushes the driven item, the motor's tip is in contact with the item while the tip expands; the two are not in contact while the tip contracts. The converse is true when the motor pulls the driven item in the opposite direction. The total displacement at the tip of the motor is a function of both the mechanical load it is driving and the voltage supplied to the piezo element. The maximum displacement can be up to a few microns when the peak driving voltage is 5 V.
The motor behaves in many ways like a DC or electromagnetic stepper motor, but it does not suffer from many of the drawbacks of these conventional motors. Unlike conventional electromagnetic motors, which must overcome inertial delays to come to a stop, the highly dynamic Elliptec motor can stop within microseconds. As it has no gears, it does not exhibit backlash. Since it possesses no magnets, it is compatible with use in environments sensitive to electromagnetic interference. The motion of the driven element is continuous and smooth. As the tip of the motor must be in contact with the driven item to induce motion, the motor possesses the safety feature of an inherent friction brake. When in contact with a plastic surface, the motor operates virtually silently.
For OEM applications, the motor can be manufactured in volume at low cost, and it can be driven by inexpensive analog electronics. It does not require microprocessors or software; however it is compatible for use with them.
Click to Enlarge
The Elliptec Piezoelectric Resonant Motor Control Software GUI
Software for Devices Driven by Elliptec® Piezoelectric Resonant Motors
All devices based on the Elliptec® resonant piezo motor may be controlled by the Elliptec system software, which features an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI). The source code, in C# format, is included in software bundle available for download, and custom applications can be created in any language. The image at right shows a screen capture of the GUI, and the button that follows links to the download page.
Commands are entered in the Sequencer command / wait order section located at the center-left of the GUI. An example of a sequence of commands that might be sent to the device is "Agj" to get the jog step size of the stage at address "A," "Asj0000200" to set the jog step size as 0.25 mm, and "Abw" to jog the stage at address "A" backward by 0.25 mm. The command "As1" is used to perform the frequency search that will identify the optimal resonant frequencies, for the current operating conditions, for Motor 1 at address "A."
Software
Version 1.6.3
Includes the Elliptec System Software, with an easy-to-use GUI. Also available for download is the Communications Protocol manual, which details the communication commands for the Elliptec software package.
Motorized Linear Translation Stages
Thorlabs' motorized linear translation stages are offered in a range of maximum travel distances, from a stage with 20 µm of piezo translation to our 600 mm direct drive stage. Many of these stages can be assembled in multi-axis configurations, providing XY or XYZ translation. For fiber coupling applications, please see our multi-axis stages, which offer finer adjustment than our standard motorized translation stages. In addition to motorized linear translation stages, we offer motorized rotation stages and goniometers. We also offer manual translation stages.
Piezo Stages
These stages incorporate piezoelectric elements in a variety of drive mechanisms. ORIC® stages incorporate piezo inertia drives that use "stick-slip" friction properties to obtain extended travel ranges. Our Nanoflex™ translation stages use standard piezo chips along with manual actuators. Elliptec® stages use resonant piezo motors to push and pull the moving platform through resonant elliptical motion. Our LPS710E z-axis stage features a mechanically amplified piezo design and includes a matched controller.
| Piezoelectric Stages | ||||
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| Product Family | ORIC® PDXZ1 Closed-Loop 4.5 mm Vertical Stage |
ORIC® PD2 Open-Loop 5 mm Stage |
ORIC® PDX2 Closed-Loop 5 mm Stage |
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| Travel | 4.5 mm | 5 mm | ||
| Speed | 1 mm/s (Typ.)a | 10 mm/s (Typ. Max)b | 8 mm/s (Typ.)c | |
| Drive Type | Piezoelectric Inertia Drive | |||
| Possible Axis Configurations | Z | X, XY, XYZ | ||
| Mounting Surface Size |
45.0 mm x 42.0 mm | 13 mm x 13 mm | ||
| Additional Details | ||||
| Piezoelectric Stages | ||||||
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| Product Family | ORIC® PD1 Open-Loop 20 mm Stage |
ORIC® PD1D Open-Loop 20 mm Monolithic XY Stage |
ORIC® PDX1 Closed-Loop 20 mm Stage |
ORIC® PDX1A Closed-Loop 20 mm Stage Low-Profile |
ORIC® PD3 Open-Loop 50 mm Stage |
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| Travel | 20 mm | 50 mm | ||||
| Speed | 3 mm/s (Typ. Max)a | 20 mm/s (Typ. Max)c | 10 mm/s (Typ.)b | 10 mm/sd | ||
| Drive Type | Piezoelectric Inertia Drive | |||||
| Possible Axis Configurations | X, XY, XYZ | XY, XYZ | X, XY, XYZ | X, XY, XYZ | X, XY, XYZ | |
| Mounting Surface Size |
30 mm x 30 mm | 80 mm x 30 mm | ||||
| Additional Details | ||||||
| Piezoelectric Stages | ||||||
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| Product Family | Nanoflex™ 20 µm Stage with 5 mm Actuator |
Nanoflex™ 25 µm Stage with 1.5 mm Actuator |
Elliptec® 28 mm Stage | Elliptec® 60 mm Stage | LPS710E 1.1 mm Vertical Stage | |
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| Travel | 20 µm + 5 mm Manual | 25 µm + 1.5 mm Manual | 28 mm | 60.0 mm | 1.1 mm | |
| Maximum Velocity | - | 180 mm/s | 90 mm/s | - | ||
| Drive Type | Piezo with Manual Actuator | Resonant Piezoelectric Motor | Amplified Piezo | |||
| Possible Axis Configurations | X, XY, XYZ | X | Z | |||
| Mounting Surface Size | 75 mm x 75 mm | 30 mm x 30 mm | 15 mm x 15 mm | 21 mm x 21 mm | ||
| Additional Details | ||||||
Stepper Motor Stages
These translation stages feature removable or integrated stepper motors and long travel ranges up to 300 mm. Many of these stages either have integrated multi-axis capability (PLSXY) or can be assembled into multi-axis configurations (PLSX, LNR Series, NRT Series, and LTS Series stages). The MLJ150 stage also offers high load capacity vertical translation.
| Stepper Motor Stages | |||||
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| Product Family | PLSX with and without PLST(/M) Top Plate 1" Stage |
PLSXY with and without PLST(/M) Top Plate 1" Stage |
LNR Series 25 mm Stage |
LNR Series 50 mm Stage |
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| Travel | 1" | 25 mm | 50 mm | ||
| Maximum Velocity | 7.0 mm/s | 2.0 mm/s | 50 mm/s | ||
| Possible Axis Configurations |
X, XY | X, XY, XYZ | X, XY, XYZ | ||
| Mounting Surface Size |
3" x 3" | 60 mm x 60 mm | 100 mm x 100 mm | ||
| Additional Details | |||||
| Stepper Motor Stages | ||||||
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| Product Family | NRT Series 100 mm Stage |
NRT Series 150 mm Stage |
LTS Series 150 mm Stage |
LTS Series 300 mm Stage |
MLJ250 50 mm Vertical Stage |
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| Travel | 100 mm | 150 mm | 150 mm | 300 mm | 50 mm | |
| Maximum Velocity | 30 mm/s | 50 mm/s | 3.0 mm/s | |||
| Possible Axis Configurations |
X, XY, XYZ | X, XY, XYZ | Z | |||
| Mounting Surface Size |
84 mm x 84 mm | 100 mm x 90 mm | 148 mm x 131 mm | |||
| Additional Details | ||||||
DC Servo Motor Stages
Thorlabs offers linear translation stages with removable or integrated DC servo motors. These stages feature low profiles and many can be assembled in multi-axis configurations.
| DC Servo Motor Stages | ||||
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| Product Family | MT Series 12 mm Stages |
PT Series 25 mm Stages |
MTS Series 25 mm Stage |
MTS Series 50 mm Stage |
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| Travel | 12 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 50 mm |
| Maximum Velocity | 2.6 mm/s | 2.4 mm/s | ||
| Possible Axis Configurations | X, XY, XYZ | X, XY, XYZ | ||
| Mounting Surface Size |
61 mm x 61 mm | 101.6 mm x 76.2 mm | 43 mm x 43 mm | |
| Additional Details | ||||
| DC Servo Motor Stages | ||||
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| Product Family | M30 Series 30 mm Stage |
M30 Series 30 mm Monolithic XY Stage |
M150 Series 150 mm XY Stage |
KVS30 30 mm Vertical Stage |
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| Travel | 30 mm | 150 mm | 30 mm | |
| Maximum Velocity | 2.4 mm/s | X-Axis: 170 mm/s Y-Axis: 230 mm/s |
8.0 mm/s | |
| Possible Axis Configurations | X, Z | XY, XZ | XY | Z |
| Mounting Surface Size |
115 mm x 115 mm | 272.4 mm x 272.4 mm | 116.2 mm x 116.2 mm | |
| Additional Details | ||||
Direct Drive Stages
These low-profile stages feature integrated brushless DC servo motors for high speed translation with zero backlash. When no power is applied, the platforms of these stages have very little inertia and are virtually free running. Hence these stages may not be suitable for applications where the stage's platform needs to remain in a set position when the power is off. We do not recommend mounting these stages vertically.
| Direct Drive Stages | |||||
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| Product Family | DDS Series 50 mm Stage |
DDS Series 100 mm Stage |
DDS Series 220 mm Stage |
DDS Series 300 mm Stage |
DDS Series 600 mm Stage |
| Click Photo to Enlarge |
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| Travel | 50 mm | 100 mm | 220 mm | 300 mm | 600 mm |
| Maximum Velocity | 500 mm/s | 300 mm/s | 400 mm/s | 400 mm/s | |
| Possible Axis Configurations | X, XY | X, XY | X | X | |
| Mounting Surface Size | 60 mm x 52 mm | 88 mm x 88 mm | 120 mm x 120 mm | ||
| Additional Details | |||||
| Posted Comments: | |
Jonathan Merten
(posted 2024-10-07 12:01:54.86) Sirs-
I am trying to use a combination of elliptec rotary stage and linear stage to move my sample for laser ablation experiments. The rotation stage works virtually always. The linear stage stops responding (and even ceases to be found on the ello utility) constantly and has cost me tens of thousands of dollars in time. How can I make this reliable? Jonathan Merten do'neill
(posted 2024-10-11 05:35:00.0) Thank you for reaching out and I am sorry to hear you are experiencing issues. I will contact you directly to help troubleshoot this with you. user
(posted 2024-08-22 08:53:54.02) Hi, can the stage work with the bottom surface in the horizontal plane (i.e. upside down)? tschofield
(posted 2024-09-02 08:14:29.0) Thank you for your question. The recommended mounting orientation is horizontal for the ELL20(/M). So long as the the resulting motion takes place in the horizontal plane, most orientations are acceptable during use.
If you plan to mount the ELL20 upside down with the top face of the metal moving world facing the source of gravity, please keep in mind that the accumulation of dust or the rails of the ELL20(/M) will impede its motion and the weight capacity of the ELL20(/M) will be reduced. We do not recommend running the ELL20(/M) in this configuration. I will reach out to you regarding your application. Thanistha Pinyapo
(posted 2023-11-29 16:59:22.02) Dear Sir or Madam, I want to apply Ell20K/M and DCC cameras together. Could you recommend whether I should use Matlab or LabView to control Ell20K/M? Do you have any sample code for a beginner? do'neill
(posted 2023-12-04 07:44:19.0) Response from Daniel at Thorlabs. It would be possible to use either language to control the ELL20 however, the choice in language can be very application dependent. In this case I would possibly recommend LabVIEW out of the two. I will reach out to you directly to provide a LabVIEW example and discuss your application with you. Anton Lappe
(posted 2023-11-07 03:03:49.393) Dear Sir or Madam,
I purchased the Ell20K/M and have the following Problem: The Software "Ello" crashes frequently while using. Especially when doing the cleaning routine. Please reach out to me to discuss a solution. Best Regards do'neill
(posted 2023-11-13 04:09:47.0) Response from Daniel at Thorlabs. I am sorry to hear this. I will reach out to you directly to help troubleshoot this with you. Katrin Meier
(posted 2023-06-13 12:15:18.92) Hello! In the past, I was using Matlab to communicate with an ELL20-stage via the serial interface. For this, I had to choose to which COM-Port of my computer the stage is connected. Is is also possible to use such a solution for communicating with two stages using the ELLB and Matlab? How would the stages then be adressed, being connected to the same COM-port? Thank you very much! do'neill
(posted 2023-06-20 12:01:35.0) Response from Daniel at Thorlabs. This is possible, they will be connected by the same COM-port but will have different addresses within that from 0-F (meaning a maximum of 16 devices can be connected this way). I will reach out to you directly to discuss this further. Sebastian Harenbrock
(posted 2022-09-09 15:16:58.12) I'd like to share a tip that I wish I'd known sooner.
I'm using a QTH10 (10W halogen lamp) with a cylindrical lens to focus the light down to a narrow column across the middle of this 60mm stage. I noticed today that whenever the lamp is switched on, the stage has a very hard time performing its cleaning or optimisation routines. It constantly gets stuck, emitting a high-pitched sound. Only when the beam of light is broken (e.g. by my face when getting close to listen to the whining noise) does it start to move again.
A simple fix (besides turning the lamp off) was to put a small piece of black masking tape across the white cable terminal such that the IC on the board is obscured.
I don't know exactly what causes this. Perhaps the significant infrared emissions of the lamp raise the temperature of the chip too much, but I think the effect appears and disappears to quickly for that. I'd be curious if someone knows. DJayasuriya
(posted 2022-09-14 06:27:25.0) Thank you for your inquiry. The infrared emission from the halogen lamp would interfere with the position sensor which would cause performance issues. Hope this helps. If you have any questions please get in touch with your local tech support team. Roberta Frass-Kriegl
(posted 2022-05-06 14:16:34.897) Dear Sir or Madam,
I am a researcher in the field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
I am interested in using the 60 mm Linear Translation Stage with Resonant Piezoelectric Motorsinside the MR scanner.
This is not trivial, and I would like to ask your judgment whether the device could be functional under the following conditions:
-very high static magentic field (3T)
-high-power RF field (123 MHz, few hundreds of W)
-magnetic field gradients, switched at kHz rate
Ideally, all components would be non-magnetic, but from my experience, small para- or ferromagnetic parts (e.g. screws, connectors) are not too
much of a problem. What would be really problematic are transformers,
for example.
As a quick test to start with, could you check for any ferro-magnetic parts with a hand-held magnet?
Please let me know your opinion on that topic.
Best regrads,
Roberta Frass DJayasuriya
(posted 2022-05-09 08:26:48.0) Thank you for your inquiry. Unfortunately we do not have this data to hand, but we have got in touch with you directly. Jonathan Merten
(posted 2022-05-03 18:21:54.99) I have found these stages to be a bit flaky. Unfortunately, I have built my application around them and cannot go back at this point. My brand-new ELL20 is largely unresponsive (i.e. communicates, but does not manage to move in most cases, certainly not reliably). This is the first time that I have even plugged it in. Can you provide a new unit or help troubleshoot? The ELL14 bought in the same order works just fine DJayasuriya
(posted 2022-05-05 04:09:18.0) Thank you for your feedback. Sorry to hear this we have got in touch directly to resolve this issue. DJayasuriya
(posted 2022-05-05 04:09:18.0) Thank you for your feedback. Sorry to hear this we have got in touch directly to resolve this issue. user
(posted 2021-06-09 11:12:53.477) Do you have any experience concerning the outgassing of the control board under vacuum conditions? DJayasuriya
(posted 2021-06-16 04:16:26.0) Thank you for your inquiry. Unfortunately these are not vacuum compatible. We have got in touch with you directly as well. Sebastian Harenbrock
(posted 2021-01-24 15:02:20.303) Do you have any Python code examples for controlling this stage? I'd like to avoid implementing the entire communications protocol from scratch, if possible. cwright
(posted 2021-01-25 08:39:32.0) Response from Charles at Thorlabs: Thank you for your query. We will reach out to you with an example of how to use Python with these stages. Martin Ahrens
(posted 2020-04-27 05:44:49.633) Ich wollte fragen ob es auch eine LabView-Software zu der Stage gibt. DJayasuriya
(posted 2020-04-28 04:26:23.0) Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Yes you are able to use Labview in controlling the stage. Your local techsupport team will get in touch to discuss your application. |
Zoom
Click to Enlarge
The motors' aluminum tips contact the black plastic strip at the edge of the linear stage to translate the stage back and forth.
Click for Details
An ELL20K Linear Stage Bundle used to position a hollow roof mirror in an
optical delay line.
- Ideal for OEM Evaluation Testing
- Easily Integrate into a Setup
- Operate using Manual and/or Computer Control
- Included Power Supply is Required for Powering the Stage
The Linear Stage Bundle is a complete package that includes a linear stage and an interface board, which facilitate quick integration into laboratory setups and other experimental applications. It also provides a convenient means to evaluate incorporating this technology into OEM applications.
A mounting bracket included with the bundle fastens to the underside of the linear stage's PCB with four included screws. Two slots in the bracket align with the Ø11.0 mm (Ø0.43") holes at either side of the PCB, so that 1/4"-20 (M6) cap screws can be inserted through the holes in the PCB to secure the linear stage board to optical tables and breadboards. The bracket adds 5.0 mm of thickness to the profile of the stage.
| Included in the ELL20K(/M) Bundle | |
|---|---|
| ELL20(/M) Linear Stage | 5 V Power Supply |
| 8-Conductor 28 AWG Ribbon Cable | |
| Interface Board | Micro-B to Type-A USB Cable |
| Mounting Bracket | PC-Based Software for Download |
ZoomThe ELL20(/M) Linear Stage is offered individually to meet the needs of applications whose designs require multiple networked Elliptec® resonant motor products, or applications that do not require the other components included in the bundle above.
It possesses a 60.0 mm (2.36") travel range and a mounting surface functionalized with a center 8-32 (M4) tapped hole and four surrounding 4-40 (M3) tapped holes. Components may be mounted directly to the stage, or the 4-40 (M3) tapped holes can be used to secure an adapter plate, such as the MMP1(/M) or
The PCB of the linear stage incorporates a male 8-pin Picoflex® connector (header). The ELL20(/M) stage ships with the female 8-pin Picoflex® connector (receptacle) that mates with the connector (header) on the board.
Zoom| Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Item # | ELLC2 | |
| DC Voltage Input to Controller | 4.5 to 5.5 V | |
| Typical Current Consumption Per Module | Movement | 800 mA |
| Standby | 50 mA | |
| Operating Temperature Range | 15 to 40 °C | |
| Ribbon Cable Length (1 Included) | 250 mm (9.84") | |
| Maximum Supported Ribbon Cable Length |
500 mm (19.68") | |
| Dimensions (Interface Only) | 66.0 mm x 32.0 mm x 12.5 mm (2.60" x 1.26" x 0.49") |
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| Weight (Interface Only) | 10.8 g (0.022 lbs) | |
- Convert Any Single ELL Device into a Kit by Adding the Following:
- Handheld Controller
- USB Micro B Cable
- Picoflex®1 Cable
- 5 V Power Supply with Regional Adapter (US, UK, AU, or EU)
Click for Details
Region-Specific Adapters for the ELLC2 Power Adapter
Thorlabs' ELLC2 Accessory Upgrade Pack is designed to include all of the items necessary to convert any single ELL slider, stage, or mount into an ELL kit2. The included handheld controller features three buttons to control the position of a connected ELL stage and the USB port enables direct connection to a PC via the included USB Micro B cable. A 0.25 m Picoflex® cable with 8 loaded circuits that connects the handheld controller to the ELL device and a 5 V power supply with a regional adapter (US, UK, AU, or EU) are also included with the kit.
- Note: Picoflex® is a registered trandemark of Molex Incorporated.
- Mounting brackets for the ELL17(/M), ELL18(/M), and ELL20(/M) can be ordered by contacting Tech Support.
Zoom| Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| Item # | ELLB | |
| Voltage Rating | 4.5 to 5.5 V | |
| Typical Current Consumption Per Module | Movement | 800 mA |
| Standby | 50 mA | |
| Maximum Board Current | 4.0 A | |
| Operating Temperature Range | 15 to 40 °C | |
| Ribbon Cable Length (4 Included) | 250 mm | |
| Maximum Supported Ribbon Cable Length |
500 mm | |
| Dimensions | 65.0 mm x 32.0 mm x 12.5 mm (2.56" x 1.26" x 0.49") |
|
| Weight | 11 g (0.02 lbs) | |
Click to Enlarge
A single bus distributor can be used to control up to four Elliptec devices. The bus can be connected to a PC using the interface board provided with the bundles sold above. Note that the bus is then controlled by the Elliptec software and that the buttons on the interface board are disabled.
- Control and Power up to Four Elliptec® Devices with One Bus
- Daisy Chain Bus Boards to Control up to 16 Elliptec Devices
- Controlled Remotely Using Elliptec System Software (See Software Tab Above)
- Connect to PC Using USB Interface Board Included with Elliptec Bundles
- Five Jumpers and Four 8-Conductor 28 AWG Ribbon Cables Included
- Compatible with Raspberry Pi® and Arduino® Boards
The ELLB Bus Distributor connects up to four Elliptec® devices. Connected devices can be controlled with or without the interface board included with the above bundles. When using the interface board, each connected device is controlled remotely by a PC running the Elliptec software package. The interface board connects to the bus's input port labeled REMOTE; once connected, the interface board's buttons are disabled. For control without using the interface board, see the Pin Diagrams tab for custom connections.
Multiple ELLB Bus Distributors can be daisy chained to control and power up to 16 Elliptec devices; simply connect one of the four MODULE outputs to the second board's REMOTE input. Indicator LEDs are provided to show which device is active. The communications protocol manual describes how to use the software to individually address each connected device. A link to download the software and accompanying documentation can be found in the Software tab.
The bus includes a Ø6.3 mm power connector that supports a 5 V supply with a maximum current of 4 A. As more devices are connected, simultaneous control of the units will require more current to be provided by the power supply; please see the Specs tab for the amount of current drawn by each Ellitpec device. A 5 V, 1 A power supply is included with the above ELL9 and ELL12 bundles. Depending on the current draw of the Elliptec devices connected, this supply provides enough current to power two devices simultaneously.
Fourteen control pins, detailed in the image to the right, are included for additional functionality. Four pairs of pins are each shorted with a jumper that, when in place, enables the Elliptec software to receive feedback from connected Elliptec devices. The pair of pins labeled LED is shorted with a jumper that, when removed, will disable the indicator LEDs. The 5V and GND allow an optional, user-provided 5 V, 2 A power supply to be used in place of a source connected to the Ø6.3 mm power connector. The RX and TX pins can be used to control the bus with a Raspberry Pi® or Arduino® board, respectively, instead of the Elliptec interface board.
The board is mounted using the Ø3.5 mm through holes provided in each corner. Four 8-conductor, 28 AWG ribbon cables are included.
| Compatible Elliptec Devices | |||||
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| Multi-Position Sliders | 28 mm Linear Stage | 60 mm Linear Stage | Rotation Stage | Rotation Mount | Motorized Iris |
Linear: 60 mm, Resonant Piezo Motor