Chaper 3 Operation; Using Micrometer Drives; Stage Orientation - THORLABS MicroBlock MBT Series User Manual

Chapter 3 Operation

3.1 Using Micrometer Drives

The unit is shipped with the top platform at the nominal position (i.e. center of travel).
Turning the actuator gives ±2 mm of travel from this nominal position.
All axes have travel-limiting stops to prevent overdriving. When the travel limit is
reached do not continue to drive the stage. The direction of travel of the actuators to
reach the travel limits is shown in Fig. 3.1.
The micrometer drives are marked with a graduated scale, as shown in Fig. 3.2.

3.2 Stage Orientation

Caution
The stage is designed to be mounted horizontally as shown in the images
throughout this manual. Internally, a series of springs provides the pre-load for
the actuators and this pre-load will be reduced or removed if the stage is
mounted in any orientation other than horizontal, which may result in degraded
performance.
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Fig. 3.1 Actuator travel to reach travel stops
Scale index mark
Coarse adjustment
Fig. 3.2 Reading micrometer drives
1.0 μm intervals
Fine adjustment