Nanomotion's Z-Axis Auto Focus Stage provides positioning and focussing for microscope and imaging applications

Available exclusively in the UK from Heason Technology, the compact stage is easily adapted to standard or custom microscope mechanics and is available with a wide range of matching servo drives and motion controls. The Z Axis Auto Focus Stage assembly combines Nanomotion's unique standing wave, inverse piezoelectric ceramic motor technology and a high resolution encoder in a miniature but robust translation stage housing with integral precision bearings and a spring counterbalance.

The zero backlash, direct-drive stage features a travel range to 25 mm, selectable standard resolution from 10 nanometres to 100 nanometres (with 1 nanometre optional), a wide dynamic speed range (up to 250mm/second) and static loading to 400 grams.

Nanomotion's ceramic servo motor technology suits the demands of high-speed move and settle positioning required by microscope focussing applications, providing a typical focussing move of 1 to 10 microns in under 5 milliseconds, settling within 100 nanometres. Ultra fast settling times and the inherent ability to lock the stage's position at rest and under power-of conditions ensures excellent levels of optical stability with minimal thermal drift.

Typical applications for the Z Axis Auto Focus Stage include managing the demanding high speeds, accelerations and positioning reversals in cell terrain imaging, semiconductor and biomedical microscopy, and on-the-fly focussing. The stage may also be used in a horizontal orientation for step and repeat imaging.