THORLABS LNR50 Series User manual

Motion Control
Linear Long-travel Translation Stage
LNR50 Series

THORLABS
About the Company
Thorlabs has been an active member of the Photonics community for over 15 years.
We strive to be the ultimate resource for the photonics community-a place to find the
products you need to enable your experiments, as well as the information you need to get
your application working.
Thorlabs designs, develops, and manufactures building blocks for the photonics industry
including equipment for opto-mechanics, motion control, nano-positioning, alignment,
optical components, laser diodes, tunable lasers and vibration isolation systems. In
addition to core photonics building blocks, we now provide system level solutions
including complete OCT and imaging systems.
Trademarks
THORLABS is a registered trademark of
Thorlabs Inc.
Product Warranty
Opto-Electronics, Control Electronics,
Optics, and Nano-Positioning Product
Lines.
Thorlabs offers a two year warranty on the
above mentioned product lines, provided
normal use and maintenance of the
products and when properly handled and
correctly installed.
Thorlabs shall repair or replace any
defective or nonconforming product as
detailed above. We ask that buyer contact
Thorlabs for a Return Material
Authorization number (RMA #) from our
Customer Service/Returns department in
order to most efficiently process the return
and/or repair.
Products returned for repair that are not
covered under warranty, a Thorlabs
standard repair charge shall be applicable
in addition to all shipping expenses. This
repair charge will be quoted to the
customer before the work is performed.
Revision History
Issue No. Date Summary
1 121101 Initial Issue
2 050907 DRV414
3 070110 Old Parts
4 240210 Motor Pin Out

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Contents
1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 3
2 For Your Safety .......................................................................................... 5
Safety Information ..........................................................................................................5
3 Getting Started ........................................................................................... 7
Linear Long-travel Translation Stage ............................................................................7
Drives .....................................................................................................................8
Piezo Actuators ......................................................................................................9
4 Operation .................................................................................................. 11
Manual Differential Drives and Differential Micrometer Drives .....................................11
Adjusting Micrometer Drives ................................................................................11
Reading Micrometer Drives .................................................................................11
NanoStep Motor Drives ................................................................................................11
Piezo Actuators ............................................................................................................12
5 Installation ................................................................................................ 13
Unpacking ....................................................................................................................13
Assembly ......................................................................................................................13
Fitting and Removal of Drives ......................................................................................15
Fitting a Manual Drive ..........................................................................................15
Fitting a Stepper Motor Drive ...............................................................................15
Mounting Equipment to the Stage ................................................................................16
Transportation ..............................................................................................................16
Dimensions ...................................................................................................................17
Motors ..................................................................................................................17
External Piezo Actuators ......................................................................................18
Manual Drives ......................................................................................................19
LNR50 Linear Stage ............................................................................................20
6 Specifications ........................................................................................... 21
General Specifications .................................................................................................21
Piezoactuated Stage Specifications .............................................................................21
Stepper Motor Stage Specifications .............................................................................21
DC Motor Stage Specifications .....................................................................................21
Stepper Motor Connector Pin Out ................................................................................22
DC Motor Connector Pin Out ........................................................................................22
7 Parts and Consumables .......................................................................... 23
Parts List ......................................................................................................................23

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Chapter 1
Introduction
How to use this Handbook
This handbook contains all the information necessary to install, set up, and operate
the Linear Long-travel Translation Stage. For the continuing safety of the operators of
this equipment, and the protection of the equipment itself, read the Safety Information
in Chapter 2 before using the equipment, and carefully heed all cautionary notes.
If you have any questions or comments about this manual please contact your local
sales or service office or contact the factory at [phone] and ask for
Customer Service.
Alternatively, visit our website at www.thorlabs.com.
The Structure of this Manual
Chapter 1, Introduction, gives an overview of the handbook structure and draws
attention to the importance of the safety information. Chapter 2, For Your Safety,
provides critical information needed for the safe installation and operation of the
equipment. Chapter 3, Getting Started, gives an overview of the LNR stage, together
with a description of the various drives. Chapter 5, Installation, provides instructions
on siting the equipment, fitting and removing drives, and orienting the platform for left
or right handed use, together with dimension details. Chapter 4, Operation, explains
how to control the position of the stage using the different types of drive. Chapter 6
lists the specifications and Chapter 7 details the parts list.
If using a piezo actuated version of the stage, or using motor drives, refer to the
handbooks for the appropriate Thorlabs controllers.

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Chapter 2
For Your Safety
2.1 Safety Information
For the continuing safety of the operators of this equipment, and the protection of the
equipment itself, the operator should take note of the Warnings, Cautions and Notes
throughout this handbook and, where visible, on the product itself.
The following safety symbols may be used on the equipment:
Read the operating instructions before use
Connection to Earth
High voltages present
Earth point
The following safety symbols may be used throughout the handbook:
Warning. An instruction which draws attention to the risk of injury or death.
Caution. An instruction which draws attention to the risks of damage to the product,
process or surroundings.
Note. Clarification of an instruction or additional information.
This unit complies with the European Standard EN61010 as a POLLUTION DEGREE I ,
INSTALLATION CATEGORY II piece of equipment.
The Equipment, as described herein, is designed for use by personnel properly
trained in the use and handling of mains powered electrical equipment. Only
personnel trained in the servicing and maintenance of this equipment should remove
its covers or attempt any repairs or adjustments.

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Chapter 3
Getting Started
3.1 Linear Long-travel Translation Stage
The LNR50 single-axis linear long travel stage has been designed to integrate
seemlessly into the Thorlabs modular electronic or benchtop nanopositioning
systems. The unique combination of long-travel actuators and high-precision
piezoelectric elements provides solutions to applications such as manipulation,
alignment and assembly of photonics products, and microscope examination of large
samples. When fitted with a piezoelectric actuator, the stage is compatible with the
Thorlabs NanoTrakTM autoalignment module, allowing automated or semi-automated
optical alignment systems to be constructed around customer specific applications.
Stages can be bolted together in and XY or XYZ configuration for applications where
movement is required in more than one axis.
.
Fig. 3.1 LNR50 series linear long travel stage – typical XYZ configuration

8
Getting Started
3.1.1 Drives
Stages are supplied pre-configured with either manual or motor drives. However,
various motorized drives and piezo drives are available, which can easily be fitter
later, as the application needs change – see Table 3.1, Fig. 3.2, Fig. 3.3 and Section
3.1.2..
Note. The DRV013 and DRV014 trapezoidal stepper motor drives must be used in
conjunction with the BSC101, BSC102, BSC103 or MST601 stepper motor controllers.
The DRV414 DC motor drives should be used with a Thorlabs BDC001 DC motor
controller.
.
Fig. 3.2 A typical stepper motor drive
Table 3.1 Drives
Drives Type Travel
(mm) Resolution (µm) Product Number
Trapezoidal stepper motor 25.0 0.05 DRV013
Trapezoidal stepper motor 50.0 0.05 DRV014
DC servo motor 50.0 0.3 DRV414
D
RV014

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Linear Long Travel Translation Stage
Fig. 3.3 DC servo motor drive

10
Getting Started
3.1.2 Piezo Actuators
Piezoelectric actuators have been developed for optical and fiber-optical applications,
to provide linear motions up to 100 µm – see Table 3.2 and Fig. 3.4.
Fig. 3.4 A typical piezo actuator.
Note. The push blocks fitted to the linear stage use drive ball type end fittings. If the
actuator is to be used with stages by other manufacturers, the actuator tip should be
replaced with one compatible with the push block – see Table 3.3.
Table 3.2 Piezoelectric actuators
Extension
(µm at 75V dc, zero load) Standard actuator Feedback actuator
20 PAS020 PAZ020
40 PAS040 PAZ040
100 PAS100 PAZ100
Table 3.3 Piezoelectric actuator tips
End Type Thread Product Number
Flat end – PAA001
Drive ball end – PAA005
Threaded M4 PAA007
Threaded 8 - 32 UNC PAA013

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Chapter 4
Operation
4.1 Manual Differential Drives and Differential Micrometer Drives
4.1.1 Adjusting Micrometer Drives
Turn the coarse adjuster clockwise until the platform begins to move. By careful use
of the fine adjuster, sub-micron resolution is now achievable.
Fig. 4.1 Adjusting a differential drive
4.2 Motor Drives
When used together with the associated Thorlabs Motor Controller the stepper motor
and DC motor drives allow fully automatic control of the stage.
Basic steps in controlling the stage are as follows:
1) Set commands to configure each axis (setting velocities, accelerations etc.) – see
the handbook for relevant NanoStep controller.
2) Move each axis to its home position, to establish a zero datum.
3) Set commands to move each axis by relative and absolute amounts – see the
APTServer helpfile supplied with the APT server for more information.
A default configuration is set at the factory and stored in the non-volatile memory of
the NanoStep controller – see and Table 4.2 on the next page.
Notes.
• If the axis is driven towards the –ve limit, at a certain position the platform stops moving
while the drive itself continues to move until the limit switch is reached. The drive must
then be moved positively by a certain distance before the platform begins to move. This
distance is just less than the offset.
• When creating a program to control the stage, it is preferable to avoid running into the
limit switches.
coarse adjuster fine adjuster

12
Operation
Table 4.1 Standard Configuration for Stepper Motor Drives
Table 4.2 Standard Configuration for DC Motor Drives
* i.e. for a 1024 count encoder
4.3 Piezo Actuators
Piezo actuators are used to give nanometric positioning of the platform over a range
of 20 to 100 microns – see Table 3.2. They can also modulate the position of the
platform at high frequency.
On a piezo-actuated stage, position feedback may be incorporated to enhance the
repeatability and linearity of piezo motion.
The piezo-actuated stage should be used together with one of the Thorlabs
piezoelectric controllers – see the handbook supplied with the relevant piezoelectric
controller for more information.
ActiveX Parameter Value
Maximum speed 2.5 mm s-1
Minimum speed 1mm s-1
Slope 1 mm s-2
Backlash control 1
Backlash distance –0.01 mm
Mode Linear
Microsteps to units 20000
Offset 3 mm
Minimum position 0.00 mm
Maximum position 50.00 mm
ActiveX Parameter Value
Maximum speed 100 mm s-1
Minimum speed 0mm s-1
Slope 100 mm s-2
Backlash control 1
Backlash distance –0.01 mm
Encoder counts per rev 4096*
Offset 1.0 mm
Minimum position 0.00 mm
Maximum position 50.00 mm

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Chapter 5
Installation
5.1 Unpacking
Note. Retain the packing in which the unit was shipped, for use in future transportation.
Caution. Once removed from its packaging, the stage is easily damaged by mishandling.
Caution. The stage is shipped with a plate fitted to the side, which locks the carriage during
transit. These plates should be removed before the stage is used. Retain the plates for future
use.
5.2 Assembly
The base of the stage is provided with a number of fixing holes and slots for
attachment to metric or inch optical tables, as supplied by Thorlabs and other
manufacturers. Bolting the unit down minimizes the risk of damage from dropping.
The LNR stage has a basic base and carriage mechanism, incorporating high
precision, high load capacity cross-roller bearings. A spring return mechanism is
incorporated which provides a positive return force of 30N.
When used in isolation, the stage can simply be bolted to the worksurface, to provide
motion in a single axis. If multi axis movement is required, two or more stages can be
bolted together – see Fig. 5.1, in which case spacers must be fitted between the
stages as shown. The vertical mounting bracket can be used in either a right or left
handed configuration to suit a variety of applications.
When mounting the stage close to other equipment, ensure that the travel of the
moving platform is not obstructed. If the moving platform is driven against a solid
object, damage could occur. The range of travel on each axis is 50 mm total, that is ±
25 mm about the nominal position.

14
Installation
Fig. 5.1 Typical X-Y combination and accessories
LNR50P1
base plate
spring nuts
LNR50P3
Spacer
LNR50D
(shown with DRV007 differential drive)
LNR50D
(shown with DRV007 differential drive)
LNR50P2
angle bracket

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Linear Long Travel Translation Stage
5.3 Fitting and Removal of Drives
5.3.1 Fitting a Manual Drive
Referring to Fig. 5.2...
1) Ensure the micrometer drive rod is fully retracted.
2) Insert the drive into the mounting block.
3) Tighten the securing screws.
5.3.2 Fitting a Stepper Motor Drive
Referring to Fig. 5.2...
1) Remove the manual drive attachment block (if fitted).
2) Ensure the drive rod is fully retracted.
3) Fit the drive to the stage using the bolts provided.
4) Tighten the bolts.
Fig. 5.2 Fitting a drive
push block
push block
locking block
motor securing
bolts
micrometer drive
securing screws

16
Installation
5.4 Mounting Equipment to the Stage
Caution.
• The weight attached to the moving platform must not exceed 10 kg.
• Do not apply excessive forces to the moving platform.
Thorlabs manufacture a variety of fibre chucks, holders and fixtures to fit the linear
stage. All of these accessories are mounted to the stage via a top platform, see Fig.
5.3.
Fig. 5.3 Top platform
5.5 Transportation
Caution.
• The drives should be removed before transporting the stage.
• When packing the unit for shipping, use the original packing. If this is not available, use
a strong box and surround the stage with at least 100 mm of shock absorbent material.
100 (3.9)
square
25.0
(0.98)
25.0
(0.98)
50 (1.96)
76 (2.99)
13 holes threaded M6 (1/4-20 UNC)
x 6.0 (0.24) deep
2 holes threaded M6 (1/4-20 UNC) thru
0.79 (20.0) clearance
all dimensions in mm (inches)

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Linear Long Travel Translation Stage
5.6 Dimensions
5.6.1 Motors
Fig. 5.4 Dimensions – stepper motor drives
Fig. 5.5 Dimensions – DC motor drives
all dimensions in mm
25.0
(0.98)
32.8
(1.29)
12 (0.47)
42.2
(1.66)
169.5 (6.67)
16.5 ±12.5 nom
(0.65 ±0.5 nom)
DRV013 trapezoidal screw drives
32.8
(1.29)
12 (0.47)
25.0
(0.98)
42.2
(1.66)
29.0 ±25 nom
(1.14 ±0.98 nom)
194.5 (7.64)
DRV014 trapezoidal screw drives
all dimensions in mm (inches)
all dimensions in mm
9.0 (0.354)
12.5 (0.492)
92 (3.622)
39 (1.535)
230 to 280 (9.066 to 11.035)
all dimensions in mm (inches)

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Installation
5.6.2 External Piezo Actuators
Fig. 5.6 Dimensions – piezo actuators
Fig. 5.7 Dimensions – end tips
Standard actuator Length A mm (in.) Feedback actuator Length A mm (in.)
PAS020 42 (1.65) PAZ020 60 (2.36)
PAS040 60 (2.36) PAZ040 78 (3.07)
PAS100 114 (4.49) PAZ100 132 (5.2)
32.0 (1.26)
18.0
(0.71)
36.5
(1.44)
27.0
(1.06)
12.7 (0.5) dia
12.7 (0.5) dia
7.5
(0.3)
A
A
all dimensions in mm (inches)
PAA001
plain end
6-32 UNC
3.0
(0.12)
Ø 11 (0.43) Ø 11 (0.43)
Ø 11 (0.43) Ø 11 (0.43)
6-32 UNC
9.0
(0.35)
9.0
(0.35)
M4 thread
6.0
(0.24)
6.0
(0.24)
PAA007
tapped end
6-32 UNC
8-32 UNC
thread
PAA013
tapped end
PAA005
drive ball end
6-32 UNC
6.5
(0.26)
dimensions in mm (inches)