GB1354130A - Apparatus for supporting and accurately positioning an object - Google Patents

Abstract

1354130 Mounts for optical members; optical benches A BARDOCZ 7 June 1971 [16 June 1970 28 Oct 1970] 19221/71 Heading G2J [Also in Division G1] An optical bench rider R supports two relatively slidable plates V and W urged together by a bar magnet inserted in the top of W but separated by ball bearings in grooves, and the upper plate V, which supports an object to be positioned, is provided with a magnet N which abuts the end of a micrometer screw secured to W so that fine adjustment of the plates by means of the micrometer may be made without backlash. Coarse adjustment is made by operating a screw T. In other embodiments two such linear translation devices are combined to give movements in both the X and Y axes, and the arrangement of Figs. 2a and 2b allows rotation about a Z axis where the two plates or sliders are in the form of a turntable. If desired the plate W could be dispensed with and the plate U or V mounted directly on R. Further combinations permit movement in all three axes, Figs.3 and 4 (not shown). In the embodiment of Figs. 8a, 8b, 8c a lens or mirror O is mounted on a turntable system U and P 2 counterbalanced by a weight P 3 , so as to be movable in the Z direction, and the supporting column P 1 is itself rotatable and movable in two linear directions the top plate V being rotatable and the two lower plates V being slidable along the X and Y axes respectively. Coarse vertical adjustment of O may be effected manually and fine adjustment by a micrometer magnetically connected between pillar P 1 and plate P 2 . Piezo-electric transducers may be used in conjunction with the micrometer and act on the plates via magnets.