Motorized Miniature Translation Stage for Motion Control, Newly Released by PI

A new family of compact motorized translation stages is available from PI. 

December 2018, Auburn, MA –The L-408 linear stage strikes a good balance of load capacity, precision, and low cost. It has applications in research and industry including optics, bio-tech, and assembly of miniature components and photonics instrumentation.

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New L-408 Linear Stage

Compact and Precise 
PI’s new compact X-axis linear stage provides precise motion and reliability with anti-creep crossed roller bearings. Driven by a high resolution leadscrew with 0.5mm pitch, minimum incremental motion of 0.1 microns (100nm) is achieved over a travel range of 1 inch (25mm). 


Up to 44lbs Payload (200N) and 11lb Push/Pull Force (50N)
Despite its compact dimensions, the stage can handle payloads of 44lbs (200N) and provides a push/pull force of 11lbs (50N). 


What Drives It?
Stepper and servo motors are offered with direct-drive and gearbox options. The maximum velocity of the direct-drive stages is 10mm/sec. The unidirectional repeatability of all versions is 0.5 microns. High resolution, motor-mounted optical encoders provide position feedback to the motion controller for closed-loop operation.

Noncontact, optical limit switches and reference point switches with direction sensing in the middle of the travel range simplify use in automation tasks. 

Features of the compact stages include:

  • 1” (25mm) travel
  • 0.1 – 0.5µm min. incremental motion
  • 8 – 122nm encoder resolution
  • 1 -10mm/sec max. velocity
  • 40 – 50N push/pull force
  • Servo & stepper motors

Standard and Custom
PI has in-house engineered solutions with over 4 decades of experience working with customers to provide products that meet application demands, and can quickly modify existing product designs or provide a fully customized OEM part to fit the exact requirements of the application. 

About PI
PI is a leading manufacturer of air bearing stages, piezoelectric solutions, precision motion control equipment, and hexapod parallel-kinematics for semiconductor applications, photonics, bio-nano-technology and medical engineering. PI has been developing and manufacturing standard & custom precision products with piezoceramic and electromagnetic drives for 4 decades. The company has been ISO 9001 certified since 1994 and provides innovative, high-quality solutions for OEM and research. The PI group employs more than 1,300 people worldwide in 15 subsidiaries and R&D / engineering centers on 3 continents.