Manual positioners

Guide

Guide

Operating Environment of Manual Stages

Use manual positioning stages within the following environment temperature range.
Contact us for information regarding using the stages outside the given operational environment temperature range.

Operating environment Recommended environment
Category Operational environment temperature 23° ± 5°C, 60 ± 10% (without condensation)
Stainless steel manual stages -20°~+120°C
Stages with digital micrometer head 0°~+40°C
Other manual stages -20°~+70°C

Operating environment temperature changes depending on various conditions such as the type of positioning stage,
installation and operation conditions.
Avoid use of the stages in the following sites.

  • Sites subject to water or oil
  • Sites subject to direct sunlight or radiant heat
  • Sites subject to dirt and dust
  • Sites subject to vibration or impact
  • Sites close to fire
  • Sites subject to inflammable gas and corrosive gas

Installation Direction (Mounting)

The values in the specifications of each product are based on installation on a horizontal surface.
Note that load capacity and other specifications will significantly change for upside down, lateral horizontal and other installation orientations.

Category Positioning Slide Part Number Upside Down Lateral Horizontal Lateral Vertical
Linear Extended contact ball guide method TSD
Extended contact ball guide method (flat Z) TSD-**3 × × ×
Extended contact ball guide method (flat Z) TSD-**UD × ×
Crossed roller method TAM
Dovetail slide method TASB, TAR
Rotation Extended contact ball guide method KSPT
Crossed roller method KSPB
Fitting method KSP, KSPA, KSW, KSC
Gonio Extended contact ball guide method GOHT, GOHT-S
Dovetail slide method GOH, GOHB

◯ : Possible with limits on load and moment, etc.
△ : May significantly deteriorate precision depending on installation orientation, but possible with limits on load and moment, etc.
× : Not allowed

Note) When using stages in lateral vertical direction, refer to the actuator specifications.

Mounting Methods of Stages

Mounting methods differ depending on the stage type;
some stages require the table surface to be moved (by loosening the clamp), and some stages can be directly mounted.

Linear Stage

Loosen the clamp, turn the micrometer head, and then move the stage to mount.

Rotation Stage
Gonio Stage

Loosen the clamp, turn the adjustment knob, and then move the stage to mount.
Attach the accessory screws to the two mounting holes, and do the same thing on the other side.

Accessory Screws

Mounting bolts described in the external dimensions in the catalog are included.

How to Read Micrometer Head and Vernier Scale

Micrometer head and vernier scale are available for reading the stage position.

How to Read a Micrometer Head

If the readable resolution is 0.01mm

  1. Read the mark on the sleeve that lines up with the edge of thimble ① in units of 0.5mm. In this case, 8.5mm.
  2. Read the value ② on the thimble that lines up with the sleeve base line in units of 0.01mm. In this case, 0.41mm.
  3. Lastly, sum up 1. and 2. to confirm the current position of the manual stage. 8.5mm+0.41mm=8.91mm
How to Read a Vernier Scale
  1. Read the mark on scale ① that is coincident with the 0-mark on vernier scale ② in units of 1mm. In this case, 7mm.
  2. Read mark ① where the mark on vernier scale ② and that on scale ① line up in units of 0.1mm. In this case, 0.3mm.
  3. Lastly, sum up 1. and 2. to confirm the current position of the stage. 7mm+0.3mm=7.3mm

Opposite Models

When installation spaces have constraints or symmetrical systems are required, we offer opposite models without price difference. The configuration and orientation of opposite models are as follows.

For single axis

Opposite models will be axially symmetrical in the external dimensions.

Travel

Travel is described with ±.
(E.g.) In the case of ±6.5mm, with the outline drawing position as the center, move for (+)6.5mm in one direction, and move for (-)6.5mm in the opposite direction.
In this case, the full travel is 13mm.

Grease Used

We use an appropriate grease for each of our manual stages according to the respective characteristics.

Relevant Product TSD
TSDT
TAM IPWS GOH
GOHT
KSP
KSPT
TADC TSDH TSDS
Grease High durability grease Optical special grease Low dust
generation grease
Vacuum grease
Usable Temperature Range -20°C ~ 70°C -40°C ~ 120°C -0°C ~ 250°C
High Durability Grease

A high-grade versatile grease for industrial use.
It is best suited for electric motor bearings or machine tool bearings which are particularly required for high quality and high performance.
In addition, it is excellent in noise reduction, and can be used for a wide range of applications.

Low Dust Generation Grease (AFF Grease manufactured by THK Co., Ltd.)

Best suited for use in clean rooms because of its excellent low dust generation properties.
Since its viscosity resistance is low, its rolling resistance is stable and excellent in following capability at low speed.
Compared with other low dust generation greases, this grease can offer longer greasing intervals because of its excellent fretting resistance.

Vacuum Grease (Fomblin Grease YVAC2)

This grease is widely used for various vacuum equipment and for clean rooms.
The grease vapor pressure is 5×10 (-13 power) Torr at 20°C.

Optical Special Grease

This grease is used in many precision equipment fields because, in addition to lubricating properties, it has high cold resistance and heat resistance, low oozing properties, no influence on the coating surface, and is harmless to resins.

* We can also replace the greases with ones not listed above. Contact our International Sales Division for more information.