Stepper Motor Driven
Linear Translation Stages
stepper system overview


Science Wares, Inc. announces a complete set of automated motion control products for applications that demand high precision at a reasonable price. The components can be used independently or combined to provide a high-performance, low cost solution. The complete set plugs directly into the parallel port of a PC running Windows 3.1x or Windows 95 and provides automated control of up to 4 axes with speeds up to 2 mm/second and minimum incremental steps down to 0.003 microns. The motion can be controlled from the keyboard, the mouse or a joystick. Equipment from third party vendors can be used to interface with LabVIEW and LabWindows systems.



Stepper Motor Driven Stages
close-up of stage

Motorized Drives

Travel: 1.25"/ 2.00" (30 mm / 50 mm)
Speed: Up to 2 mm/sec no load
Positioning Accuracy: ~ 0.2% of travel
Bi-directional Repeatability: ~ 1.0 micron
Minimum Incremental Motion: 0.003 to 0.8 microns

Translator Stages

Angular Deviation: ~ 200 mrad
Centered Load Capacity: 35 / 47 lb (16 / 19 kg)
Vertical Load Capacity: 15 lb (6.8 kg)
Threaded holes: 1/4-20 on 1" centers or
M6x1.0 on 25mm centers


These low profile motorized stages are designed to provide open-loop automated motion control for applications such as microscopy and scanning probe systems requiring high precision. The motorized drive is available with 1.25 or 2 inch travel at speeds up to 2 mm/second with no load. The positioning accuracy is approximately 0.2% of travel with a bi-directional repeatability of approximately 1.0 micron and a minimum incremental motion down to 0.003 microns. The anodized aluminum translator stages feature precision ball bearing movement and a pattern of 1/4-20 threaded and thru holes on both sides (M6x1.0 threads available with the metric version). The stages have an angular deviation of less than 200 microradians, centered load capacity of 47 lb (19 kg) for the longer stage option and 35 lb (16 kg) for the shorter stage option, and vertical load capacity of 15 lb (6.8 kg). The motors operate on 4V at 0.9A and come with shielded cabling that terminates in a 9-pin male D-subminiature connector.


Microstep Stepper Motor Driver/Interface

This driver/interface is designed to allow direct control of the stages through a PC parallel port. A 25-pin male D-subminiature connector on the back is pin-for-pin compatible with a PC parallel port, but can also accept step and direction commands from a third-party motion controller board. The output connectors on the front are 9-pin female D-subminiature connectors that are pin-for-pin compatible with the motor connectors on the stages described above. The drivers can be used for 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 or 256 microsteps per step or 5, 10, 25, 50, 125 or 250 microsteps per step. They will deliver up to 3.0 Amps RMS (4.0 Amps peak) and can be configured to automatically reduce the output current after 1 second of no motion. There is a manual disable switch on the front panel to disconnect the motor power in emergencies. The unit includes 6 foot long shielded 9-pin motor cables and a six foot long 25-pin parallel printer port cable. The power supply automatically senses 110-240V input at 50/60 Hz.


STEPPER.DLL Version 1.00

This Dynamic Link Library facilitates custom programming using advanced programming interfaces such as Visual C++, Visual Basic, LabVIEW, LabWindows, HP-VEE, etc. Depending on the CPU speed, microstep rates of up to 50 kHz are readily achievable. Callable routines support linear interpolation or fastest point-to-point motion along 4 axes simultaneously. Acceleration and deceleration profiles and speed parameters are specified in microns and microns per second.


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Maintained by Anastasia Karplus
email: sia@sciencewares.com
last updated 10/2/2003
Copyright © 2003 Science Wares, Inc., all rights reserved.