Abstract: A system for reducing jitter in a motion control system which includes at least one drive device programmed or configured to receive data associated with a time base of a controller device in the motion control system, determine the frequency of the time base of the controller device based on the data associated with the time base of the controller device, determine a frequency adjustment to be made to a time base of the at least one drive device based on the frequency of the time base of the controller device, adjust a frequency of the time base of the at least one drive based on the frequency adjustment, and provide data associated with the time base of the at least one drive device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stage system comprising at least one flexure frame having a fixed center and movable distal ends configured to displace a tabletop operatively connected thereto along at least one axis of movement and at least two actuators comprising a first actuator and a second actuator positioned within the at least one flexure frame. The first actuator is positioned within the at least one flexure frame at a first angle of deflection from at least one beam of the at least one flexure frame and the second actuator is positioned within the at least one flexure frame at a second angle of deflection from the at least one beam. The at least two actuators are configured to produce a compensating displacement to offset yaw error as the at least two actuators expand from a contracted first position to an expanded second position.

Abstract: A system and method for creating and utilizing a construction aid for the construction of a mechanical structure is provided. Specifically, the disclosure may provide a visually transparent or semi-transparent, adhesive template capable of conforming to objects having curved and/or flat surfaces including indicia marked on portions thereof indicating, for example, the location, size, and type of fasteners to be used, or other construction information, is provided. The indicia may be comprised of lines and symbols of differing size, shape and color, as well as verbiage for additional assembly instructions. The adhesive template may be either visually or mechanically indexed to the mechanical structure.

Abstract: A rotary stage having an integrated collet closure assembly includes: an actuating piston positioned in a piston housing; a drawbar configured to be moved axially depending on the position of the actuating piston to open and close the collet closure assembly, and rotationally by movement of a rotating shaft of the rotary stage; and a pair of thrust bearings provided between the actuating piston and the drawbar. The pair of thrust bearings acts as an interface between the actuating piston and the drawbar such that the drawbar rotates freely and the actuating piston and the piston housing remain stationary in a rotary direction.

Abstract: A method of directing a laser beam along a desired path on a workpiece and at spaced intervals delivering a pulse of laser energy comprising the steps of: using a position command stream and position feedback to control the positioning of galvanometer scanned mirror or mirrors to define the path a laser beam will travel to intersect the desired path on the workpiece; and using position feedback alone to determine when a pulse of laser energy is delivered to strike the workpiece at locations such that are uniformly overlapped along the path notwithstanding variations in galvanometer mirror velocity.

Abstract: A method of directing a laser beam along a desired path on a workpiece and at spaced intervals delivering a pulse of laser energy comprising the steps of: using a position command stream and position feedback to control the positioning of galvanometer scanned mirror or mirrors to define the path a laser beam will travel to intersect the desired path on the workpiece; and using position feedback alone to determine when a pulse of laser energy is delivered to strike the workpiece at locations such that are uniformly overlapped along the path notwithstanding variations in galvanometer mirror velocity.

Abstract: A high precision z-theta stage having a horizontal translation axis (z-axis) and a rotary axis (theta-axis) parallel with the translation axis comprises parallel spaced apart linear translation stages, a carriage supported between the parallel translation stages, and a rotation stage carried by the carriage between the parallel translation stages. Each brushless linear motor is connected to the carriage to apply translation forces in a horizontal plane intersecting the vertical center of gravity.

Abstract: A Cartesian gantry system having an expansion joint between an X-bridge stage and a Y-translation stage comprises a flexure plate having surfaces secured to the X-bridge stage and the Y-translation stage and bolster flanges extending between the X-bridge stage and Y-translation stage to resist twisting or rotation of the X-bridge.

Abstract: A Cartesian gantry system having an expansion joint between an X-bridge stage and a Y-translation stage comprises a flexure plate having surfaces secured to the X-bridge stage and the Y-translation stage and bolster flanges extending between the X-bridge stage and Y-translation stage to resist twisting or rotation of the X-bridge.

Abstract: A collet chuck comprises a rotating cylinder block defining a cylindrical axis and an exterior cylindrical surface with first and second annular grooves. A collet and collet sleeve are at least partially surrounded by the rotating cylinder block. A piston slides within an annular interior space in the rotating cylinder block. A stationary port block has an interior cylindrical surface adjacent the exterior cylindrical surface of the rotating cylinder block and connects a first inlet port with a first annular groove and a second inlet port with the second annular groove. Switching pneumatic pressure between the first and second inlet ports moves the piston and collet sleeve between the clamping and unclamping positions and the gap between the rotating cylinder block and the stationary port block provides a frictionless seal.

Abstract: A high precision z-theta stage having a horizontal translation axis (z-axis) and a rotary axis (theta-axis) parallel with the translation axis comprises parallel spaced apart linear translation stages, a carriage supported between the parallel translation stages, and a rotation stage carried by the carriage between the parallel translation stages. Each brushless linear motor is connected to the carriage to apply translation forces in a horizontal plane intersecting the vertical center of gravity.

Abstract: A dual-function, three-axis positioning system having a high precision z-theta state with a horizontal translation axis (z-axis) and a rotary axis (theta-axis) parallel with the translation axis and a second horizontal translation axis (x-axis) comprises parallel spaced apart linear translation states, a first carriage supported between the parallel translation stages, and a rotation stage carried by the carriage between the parallel translation stages. A removable or permanently fixed second carriage is mounted on or being part of the first carriage.

Abstract: A high precision laser machining apparatus having a horizontal translation axis (z-axis) and a rotary axis (theta-axis) parallel with the translation axis comprises parallel spaced apart linear translation stages, a carriage supported between the parallel translation stages, and a rotation stage carried by the carriage between the parallel translation stages. Mounted on the same base plate is a laser optics support stage and a workpiece advance mechanism.

Abstract: A high precision z-theta stage having a horizontal translation axis (z-axis) and a rotary axis (theta-axis) parallel with the translation axis comprises parallel spaced apart linear translation stages, a carriage supported between the parallel translation stages, and a rotation stage carried by the carriage between the parallel translation stages. Each brushless linear motor is connected to the carriage to apply translation forces in a horizontal plane intersecting the vertical center of gravity.

Abstract: A high precision laser machining apparatus having a horizontal translation axis (z-axis) and a rotary axis (theta-axis) parallel with the translation axis comprises parallel spaced apart linear translation stages, a carriage supported between the parallel translation stages, and a rotation stage carried by the carriage between the parallel translation stages. Mounted on the same base plate is a laser optics support stage and a workpiece advance mechanism.

Abstract: A dual-function, three-axis positioning system having a high precision z-theta state with a horizontal translation axis (z-axis) and a rotary axis (theta-axis) parallel with the translation axis and a second horizontal translation axis (x-axis) comprises parallel spaced apart linear translation states, a first carriage supported between the parallel translation stages, and a rotation stage carried by the carriage between the parallel translation stages. A removable or permanently fixed second carriage is mounted on or being part of the first carriage.

Abstract: A direct drive vertical lift and rotation stage comprises an annular z-axis housing having a central opening, a z-axis rotor assembly journaled within the central opening of the z-axis housing, a motor between the z-axis housing and the z-axis rotor, an annular theta-axis housing having a central opening, a theta-axis rotor assembly journaled within the central opening of the theta-axis housing, and a motor between the theta-axis housing and the theta-axis rotor.

Abstract: A linear motor includes an armature having a plurality of side-by-side electrically conductive coils formed on an electrically and magnetically nonconductive substrate with adjacent coils electrically isolated from each other. Each coil includes a plurality of electrically conductive windings positioned coaxially and electrically connected so that in response to an electrical current flowing therethrough each winding produces a magnetic field having the same polarity. Each electrically conductive winding of each coil is preferably formed on a layer and a plurality of layers is laminated together to form the substrate.

Abstract: A small footprint mechanical positioning stage capable of operating in two perpendicular orientations comprises a base plate, a carriage plate, linear bearings, a brushless linear motor, and a linear encoder. The linear bearings, the linear motor, and the encoder scale are all parallel to the direction of travel of the positioning stage.

Abstract: A device for receiving first and second analog signals consisting of two sinusoidal signals shifted in phase from an encoder and outputting digital pulses corresponding to the approximate number of equal steps the system of which the encoder is a part has advanced or retreated comprising flash memory storing a table relating total value counts to the precise value as previously determined by calibration and that adds or subtracts counts to or from a difference register so that the count in the difference register corresponds to the calibrated value moved by the system.