Steel STB2 XY-Stages

The assembly of the linear ball guide stage differs from that of the cross roller stage. For the cross roller guide stage, it is operated by adjusting the preload which is adjusted by pushing the guide side with a bolt from the side of the stage. Because the operator adjusts the preload based on experience, the quality may change depending on the skill of the operator. However, for the linear ball guide stage, the top/bottom body is finely polished, a steel ball is inserted in the grooves of the top and bottom plates, and then the plates are put together. The inserted ball size is categorized by micron units depending on the amount of polishing, thus creating a constant preload and reducing the forward/reverse difference.