Vacuum-Compatible Stages

Optosigma Vacuum-Compatible Stages are positioning stages engineered for operation in vacuum environments from rough vacuum down to ultra-high vacuum (UHV) at 10^-10 Torr. Standard stages cannot be used in vacuum due to outgassing from lubricants, plastics, and coatings.

Vacuum material requirements:
– Metals: 303 and 304 stainless steel, aluminum alloys with low outgassing coatings; no zinc or cadmium
– Lubricants: dry PTFE or MoS2 solid lubricants; Braycote or Krytox fluorinated greases for HV; no standard oils
– Seals and coatings: anodized aluminum or electroless nickel plating; no standard paints or adhesives
– Electrical cables: PTFE-jacketed wires only; Kapton-insulated for UHV

Manual vacuum stages:
– XY translation stages: micrometer-driven with stainless steel body; travel 12 mm to 50 mm
– Rotation stages: worm gear drive with vacuum lubricant; 360 degree continuous rotation
– Tilt and goniometer stages: for sample angle adjustment in vacuum diffraction setups

Motorized vacuum stages:
– Stepper motor driven with vacuum-rated encoders; controller external to vacuum
– Piezo-driven vacuum stages: ceramic piezo stacks with vacuum-compatible flexure guides
– Linear actuators: vacuum-rated ball screw or lead screw with vacuum feedthrough connector

NewRoad provides Optosigma vacuum-compatible stages in Israel for electron microscopy sample manipulation, thin film deposition, surface science, and synchrotron beamline positioning.