Q01. Please specify main components of linear ball stage?

Main components of Linear Ball Stage are:
- Bottom and Top Table:
[material] 440C Stainless Steel
[finish] Electroless Nickel Plating/ Low Temperature Black Chrome Plating
[hardness]HRC56-
- Screw: [material] 302HQ Stainless Steel
- Spring: [material] 304 Stainless Steel-WPB (Spring Steel)
- Ball: [material] 440C Stainless Steel [hardness] HRC58-
- Ball Safety cage: [material] Brass C2801P
(*) Cage will not turnish since cage and balls are always in contact with grease.
- Micrometer Head:
[material] Main Body: Carbon Steel/ Spindle: Tool Steel

Q02. Please specify basic stage movement.

Stage surface (Top plate) is pushed by micrometer head (or feed screw).
To prevent any backlash of the stage, stage tables are spring loaded. This forces stage table to be pressed against micrometer head tip (or feed screw).
This is applicable to a Cross Roller Stage.

Q03. Do stages come with clamp?

Yes, standard types can be clamped by tightening clamp screw on the side of the stage.
In order to reinforce clamping power and reduce backlash of the stage surface while clamping , additional machining option to change clamp is available.

Q04. Are stages corrosion resistant?

Certain level of corrosion resistance is present for stage (top and bottom) plates as well as balls since they are in contact with grease all the time. Micrometer mounting bracket made from 302HQ Stainless Steel ( JIS-SUSXM7 Stainless Steel) also has good corrosion resistance characteristics.
A regular maintenance such as lubricating with oil is recommended on the spindle of micrometer head (material: tool steel).

Q05. Do they have any magnetic property?

Yes, since main stage body is made of 440C Stainless Steel.
An aluminum Cross Roller Stage is recommended for those who are concern about stage magnetic properties.
Please contact for further details

Q06. Is the entire surface of linear ball stage electroless nickel plated?

Electroless Nickel Plating finish is applied over entire surface before, gothic arch grooved are polished.
During polishing process, the plating is scrapped so it does not influence guide section and balls.
Thickness of electroless nickel plating: 3〜5μｍ

Q07. Are linear ball stages RoHS compliant?

Yes, all Misumi linear ball stages are RoHS compliant.

Q08. What is the stage travel distance per one rotation of Micrometer Head

The travel distance is 0.5mm per rotation.
If smaller travel distance is required, micrometer heads with 0.25mm travel distance (part no. MCLN) can be specified.

Q09. What is the stage travel distance per one rotation of Feed Screw?

The travel distance is 0.5mm per rotation.
We also provide feed screws with 1.0mm pitch.(1mm travel per one revolution).
This type of feed screws are used when faster travel/adjustment is required.

Q10. Are micrometer heads detachable?

Yes, but special tools are required.

Micrometer heads can be detached before shipping.
Please contact us for more information.

Q11. What is the allowable load and thrust load of micrometer heads?

Allowable load at tip of micrometer head is approx. 49N (5kgf).
You can force micrometer head to rotate but that will permanently damage the micrometer.

The upper limit of the thrust load of micrometer heads (pushing force) is approx. 49N (5kgf).

Allowable load for Z/XZ/XYZ stages is approx. 49N (5kgf). It is because stage structure is such that the stage load is supported by micrometer head.

Q12. Please explain the details of Low Temperature Black Chrome Plating.

Gothic Arch Grooves has only the first layer of the plating.
The rest of the stage will also have a second layer of the plating.

First layer: Plating is added to 440C Stainless Steel thru electric plating method.
The plating thickness is 1-2µm. Plating gets integrated with 440C Stainless steel and has strong antitrust effect.
The color is glossy black.

Second Layer: Organic Ceramic(*) is baked on the first layer. (Thickness of the second layer is 5-7µm)
Thru second layer color (black) is evened out, surface reflection (shining) is reduced, and abrasion resistance and solvent resistance are improved.
(*) Organic Ceramic: Optimal surface treatment to prevent diffuse reflection for optical parts.

Tolerance of center positioning holes is H8 due to the surface treatment.

Q13. Will Low Temperature Black Chrome Plating peel off?

When balls slide thru Gothic arch grooves, surface pressure of the balls may cause plating to peel in fine powder form.
However, the powder will be mixed with grease in the groove and will not be released in the air.
Repeat testing has been conducted and no problem was detected.

Q14. Please explain the solvent resistance of Linear Ball Guide Stages with Black Chrome plating (LTBCP).

Ethanol can be used to clean the stage surface, but cannot be used for cleaning Gothic arch grooves where grease is applied.
Lack of grease interfere with motion smoothness, balls can even get stuck inside the grove.

Q15. Can Linear Ball Guide Stages be used upside down?

[X Axis and XY Axis]:
Yes, because load conditions on guide mechanism is almost the same as when stages are used in horizontal position
Some customer actually uses X/XY stages upside down.
However, values shown in Misumi catalog are obtained when stages are in horizontal position. These values are not guaranteed if stage is used in upside down position.

[Z Axis]:
It is possible to use Z axis stage in upside down position only if the position of the micrometer is changed (to support the stage load).

[Z Axis Level Stages]:
Not applicable.
This stage can not be used in upside down position, the weight and the load will move the stage and at the same time stage compression springs will extend in the same direction.

Q16. Is it possible to move a stage horizontally in vertical orientation?

Yes, it is possible.
Some customers actually do so.
However, when used in vertical orientation, moment load will be generated. Please make sure if the load is within the allowable load.
Also, catalog spec are obtained from stage used horizontally and these value are not guaranteed when stage is used vertically.

Q17. Is it possible to combine Linear Ball Type Stage and Cross Roller Type Stage?

Yes, it is possible. Customers can combine these stages by themselves.

(1)Combination of Cross Roller and Linear Ball Stages is possible because the position of mounting holes on lower plate matches tapped holes of the other upper plate.

(2) When sizes of stages are different, please note the followings.
･"Mounting holes (M3, M4, etc…) and pitches on the upper plate of lower stage" should be equal to "mounting holes (M3, M4, etc…) and pitches on the lower plate of upper stage".
･There should be no interference between stages or clamps when stages are in use.

(3) When mounting hole sizes and pitches are different, it is not possible to combining positioning stages unless adapter plate is used.

Perpendicularity cannot be guaranteed when stages are combined by customers as mentioned above.
When guaranteed perpendicularity is required, besides existing combinations in our catalog , special order for stage combination can be made.
Please contact MISUMI technical support for more information..