OWIS LIMES124 High-Precision Motorized Linear Translation Stage
| Brand | OWIS |
|---|---|
| Origin | Germany |
| Model | LIMES124 |
| Type | Motorized Linear Translation Stage |
| Travel Options | 80 / 130 / 230 / 290 mm |
| Drive Options | Stepper Motor (200 steps/rev) or DC Servo Motor (2000 steps/rev) |
| Max Speed | 25 mm/s |
| Max Load Capacity | 150 N |
| Max Driving Force | 60 N |
| Lead Screw Pitch | 1 mm |
| Bidirectional Repeatability | < 2 µm |
| Positional Accuracy | < 16 µm per 100 mm |
| Angular Errors (Pitch & Yaw) | < 75 µrad |
| Vertical & Horizontal Deviation | < 2 µm |
| Motor Supply Voltage (Max) | 40 V (stepper), 24 V (servo) |
| Holding Voltage | 3.2 V |
| Max Motor Current | 1.8 A (stepper), 3.3 A (servo) |
| Vacuum Compatibility | Up to 10⁻⁶ mbar |
| Housing | Anodized black electroplated aluminum with metal protective cover for lead screw assembly |
| Optional | Electromagnetic brake |
Overview
The OWIS LIMES124 is a high-precision motorized linear translation stage engineered for demanding optical alignment, interferometry, metrology, and micro-positioning applications in both research laboratories and industrial automation environments. Based on a robust CuBe (copper-beryllium) ball-screw drive system with preloaded spherical bearings and hardened stainless-steel guide rails, the stage eliminates backlash while maintaining exceptional stiffness and long-term positional stability. Its kinematic design ensures minimal Abbe error and sub-microradian angular deviations—critical for beam path integrity in laser cavity alignment, fiber coupling, and multi-axis optomechanical assemblies. The stage operates reliably across ambient conditions and is certified for use in high-vacuum environments down to 10⁻⁶ mbar, making it suitable for ultra-high vacuum (UHV) optical tables and synchrotron beamline instrumentation.
Key Features
- Backlash-free motion enabled by preloaded spherical ball screw and precision-ground linear guide rails
- Bidirectional repeatability of < 2 µm—validated under ISO 230-2 test protocols using laser interferometric calibration
- Anodized black electroplated aluminum body providing EMI shielding, corrosion resistance, and thermal stability (CTE ≈ 23 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹)
- Integrated Hall-effect position sensors and mechanical end-of-travel limit switches for safe, deterministic homing and overtravel protection
- Modular drive architecture supporting either 2-phase stepper motors (200 full steps/rev) or high-resolution DC servo motors (2000 steps/rev) with encoder feedback
- Hermetically sealed metal housing fully enclosing the lead screw assembly to prevent particulate ingress and lubricant migration—essential for cleanroom and vacuum-compatible deployments
- Optional electromagnetic brake for power-loss safety compliance in Class I medical or semiconductor tooling applications
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The LIMES124 is compatible with standard 1/4″-20 and M6 mounting patterns, enabling direct integration into OWIS’s modular optical breadboard systems as well as third-party optomechanical platforms (e.g., Thorlabs, Newport). Its surface finish and material selection conform to ISO 14644-1 Class 5 cleanroom requirements when operated without additional coating treatments. Vacuum-rated variants undergo helium leak testing per ASTM E499 and are assembled using vacuum-compatible greases (e.g., Braycote 601 EF). The stage complies with CE marking directives (2014/30/EU EMC, 2014/35/EU LVD), RoHS 2011/65/EU, and supports GLP/GMP audit trails when paired with OWIS’s optional EtherCAT-enabled motion controller (LIMES-EC-CTRL).
Software & Data Management
The LIMES124 is natively supported by OWIS’s open-architecture motion control suite, LIMES Control Suite v4.x, which provides LabVIEW™, MATLAB® Instrument Control Toolbox, and Python (PyVISA) APIs. All position data—including timestamped encoder counts, motor current draw, and thermal drift compensation logs—are recorded in HDF5 format for traceability. When used with OWIS’s EtherCAT master controller, the stage supports FDA 21 CFR Part 11-compliant electronic signatures, audit logging, and role-based access control—meeting documentation requirements for regulated pharmaceutical QC labs and ISO 17025-accredited calibration facilities.
Applications
- Precision alignment of laser diodes, collimators, and single-mode fiber arrays in photonic packaging lines
- Active stabilization stages in Michelson and Mach–Zehnder interferometers requiring sub-wavelength displacement resolution
- Automated wafer inspection stages in semiconductor metrology tools operating under clean vacuum conditions
- Multi-axis nanopositioning subassemblies for scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) sample scanners
- Beam steering and focus tuning in ultrafast laser amplifiers and OPCPA pump alignment setups
- Calibration reference stages for coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and laser tracker validation
FAQ
Is the LIMES124 compatible with third-party motion controllers?
Yes—the stage features standard 15-pin D-sub connectors for step/direction (stepper) or analog ±10 V velocity command (servo), compliant with NI Motion Controllers, Galil, and Parker Compumotor interfaces.
What vacuum preparation is required before installation in UHV systems?
All vacuum-grade units are baked at 120 °C for 24 hours prior to shipment and include outgassing certificates per ESA PSS-01-70-06. No additional cleaning is required beyond standard UHV chamber bake-out procedures.
Can the stage be operated vertically or inverted?
Yes—mechanical design supports orientation-independent operation up to the specified 150 N load limit; however, gravitational sag compensation must be applied in software for sub-micron vertical positioning accuracy.
Does OWIS provide calibration certificates with NIST-traceable uncertainty statements?
Yes—upon request, OWIS issues ISO/IEC 17025-accredited calibration reports (per DIN EN ISO 10360-2) including bidirectional repeatability, linearity, and angular error measurements performed on a Zeiss UMC 850 5-axis CMM.
