Stages

181 Engineering integrates a wide range of high quality linear, rotary, and gantry stages. We can integrate low cost stages for nondemanding applications as well as very high performance stages, with maximum resolution, accuracy, and repeatability for the most challenging manufacturing projects. Most stages are available with a variety of motor hyperlink and encoder hyperlink options for optimal cost-effective performance. All the latest state-of-the-art features are available, such as integral metal waycovers and Teflon coated tooling plates for protection from hot sparks and debris for harsh laser cutting applications. We have years of experience with the highest performance stages on the market. Tell us about your application and we can recommend the best choice.

Linear Stages

Linear ballscrew driven stages, with crossed roller bearing design provide high accuracy motion, at speeds up to 10 inches per second, even under heavy payload.

Linear motor driven stages provide extremely smooth, high acceleration motion at speeds up to 80 inches per second. Since these stages have no ballscrew to wear out, they provide very long-term, reliable, nearly maintenance free, high performance operation.

Rotary Stages

Direct drive rotary stages are ideal for applications requiring very high speeds, up to 200 rpm, with very smooth velocity profiling. Frequent directional changes are not a problem for these stages because they have low inertia and zero backlash.

Gear driven rotary stages feature lower profiles, lower weight, and greater load capacity.

Available options for rotary stages include through-hole apertures, adjustable hardstops, horizontal, vertical or gimbaled mounting, vacuum preparation, direct mounted or motor mounted encoders, and a variety of table tops.

Gantry systems

A gantry configuration can be very convenient for many manufacturing applications such as machine vision inspection, pick-and-place, and fiber optic delivered laser processes.