The detector positioning system was designed to carry a 400mm square X-ray detector array weighing some 100 kg and position it to within 100um of target position within an envelope of 1500x450x300mm.

The positioning of the 2.7m long granite table is repeatable to 3 microns and 10 urad.

With a payload 150kg, this bench provides sub-micron positioning accuracy and angular repeatabilities better than 0.1microradians.

Positioning systems for synchrotron applications vary widely, from simple target positioning tables to high precision test & measurement fixtures. At Q-Sys we have supplied several systems to European synchrotrons, each being a custom design to meet the user's needs.

Three examples of these are outlined below and serve to illustrate the advantages of custom designed solutions.

The detector positioning system was designed to carry a 400mm square X-ray detector array weighing some 100 kg and position it to within 100um of target position within an envelope of 1500x450x300mm. One of the main design considerations was to reduce the system's reaction to ground borne vibrations below 100Hz. Pushing the system natural frequency above this figure required a specific design including rail brakes to increase the stiffness of the upper carriage assembly. The system also carries a secondary pair of axes to position a beam stop in front of the detector face.

This sample positioning table is one of a pair for payloads up to 1000kg. It has 5 degrees of freedom, with travels of 200mm in Y, 100mm in Z and 2 degrees for each of roll, pitch and yaw. The positioning of the 2.7m long granite table is repeatable to 3 microns and 10 urad.

In order to characterise the mirrors used in synchrotrons, highly precise and stable measurement benches are required. These benches enable laser measurement of the mirror surface to be conducted but, because of the beam length required to measure mirrors up to 1500mm long, extreme precision is required of the motion platform.

The bench shown uses air bearing guidance for both the mirror positioning carriage and the optics translation carriage, which has a travel of 1500mm above the measurement bench. Precision lapping of the granite guide surfaces and intricate design details ensure that the moving carriages are virtually immune to outside disturbances – even those created by the motion system itself. With a payload 150kg, this bench provides sub-micron positioning accuracy and angular repeatabilities better than 0.1microradians.

Q-Sys engineers have now been involved in the successful supply of three of these systems around Europe .

For further information, contact: Andy Joslin,
Delta Tau UK Limited,
Holland Cottage, Kirby Road,
Great Holland, Essex
CO13 0HZ

Telephone: 01255 670196
Fax: 01255 850768
e-mail: ajoslin@deltatau.com