Overview
About our process
As atomic force microscopes continue to enter more and more areas of applications, especially in industry, production processes and quality control, standard AFM systems are often not suitable for the task at hand. For these cases, when you need the AFM to be fully integrated in a process, or your samples are too large for standard setups, Nanosurf offers the unique service of designing and developing custom AFM systems and stages that will allow you to perform your measurements with minimal disruption of your established process.
In close cooperation and in continuous dialog with you, our instrument development team will design and construct a system tailored to your exact needs. Contact us with a first description of your needs and we'll be happy to get back to you to discuss your project in depth.
After you first contact us with a request for a customization project, we organize a kick-off meeting with your project team and our engineers to fully understand your requirements. Based on this, Nanosurf develops a solution concept and prepares a quotation. The next step is a joint discussion of our solution concept. When you place your order based on the concept and quotation, our engineers develop your solution and build it in close collaboration with our partners. Finally, we test the system, deliver and install it at your facility.
Over the years of designing custom AFM-based systems, Nanosurf has now has unparalleled experience when it comes to highly complex solutions. The Industrial Solutions business unit has grown to a team of 12 highly skilled engineers, physicists, AFM experts and software developers. Example: Motorized XYZΦ translation stage.
Engineered to your requirements
Engineered for the quality control of large glass samples, this custom stage keeps all movement below the sample, mitigating the risk of contamination by abrasions in moving components. The manual change of the scan head position in two defined positions keeps the overall dimensions of the stage small while still allowing access to the whole sample under the same relative orientation.
See your solution take shape, from initial sketch, via physically precise construction - to the final solution delivered and installed at your facility.
Download the Industrial Solutions brochure
Selected examples
Examples of previous industrial solution projects
All examples of large sample stages were first realized as customization projects. You can now view them as examples for what is possible, or if one of the solutions meets your needs, we can deliver it to you as shown.
Motorized XYZ translation stage for extra large samples
| Description |
Specification |
| Max. traverse path XYZ: |
550 mm; 1555mm; 50 mm |
| Resolution XYZ: |
σ = 1 µm |
| Repositioning accuracy: |
± 5 µm |
| Absolute accuracy: |
± 50 µm |
| Max. velocity: |
30 mm/s |
| Sample platform size: |
785 × 1950 mm |
| Sample size: |
max. 540 × 1500 × 210 mm |
| Sample weight: |
max. 500 kg |
| Stage size: |
1450 × 2200 × 1350 mm |
| Stage weight: |
2250 kg |
| Stage technology: |
Air-bearings, drive-belt, stepper motor |
| Noise level: |
< 0.75 Å (NaniteAFM 110-µm scan head in quiet environment) |
Designed for very large samples, this high-load, high-precision custom stage solution is an example of cutting edge engineering. With more than 2 meters in length and 1.45 meters width, and weighing more than 2 tons, it is one of the largest stages ever built. The system, that uses air-bearings, a drive belt, and stepper motor for sample positioning, was designed for use with the NaniteAFM.
Motorized heavy-duty XYZ translation stage
| Description |
Specification |
| Max. traverse path XYZ: |
275 mm; 150 mm; 50 mm |
| Step size XYZ: |
0.5 µm |
| Resolution XYZ: |
σ = 1 µm |
| Repositioning accuracy: |
± 5 µm |
| Absolute accuracy: |
± 10 µm |
| Max. velocity: |
n.a. |
| Sample platform size: |
290 × 550 mm |
| Sample size: |
max. 250 × 700 × 175 mm |
| Sample weight: |
max. 150 kg |
| Stage size: |
530 × 590 × 470 mm |
| Stage weight: |
130 kg |
| Stage technology: |
Spindle-stepper motors, air bed |
| Noise level: |
< 0.6 Å (NaniteAFM 10-µm scan head in quiet environment) |
With large samples in mind, this high-load, high-precision, and low-noise translation stage pushes the boundaries of sample stage performance. A pneumatic lift/lock mechanism ensures easy travel when lifted and stable measurements when locked. Large travel ranges and heavy-duty integrated active vibration isolation complement the setup. The system was designed for use with the NaniteAFM.
Motorized XZΘ translation stage
| Description |
Specification |
| Max. traverse path XZ / Θ: |
250 mm; 60 mm / 100 deg |
| Step size XZ / Θ: |
50–1000 nm / 0.16–1.6 mdeg |
| Resolution XZ / Θ: |
0.3 µm / 1 mdeg |
| Repositioning accuracy: |
σ = 1 µm / σ = 3 mdeg (σ = 8 µm for all axes combined) |
| Absolute accuracy: |
± 10 µm / ± 25 mdeg |
| Max. velocity: |
13 mm/s |
| Sample platform size: |
Ø400 mm |
| Sample platform rotation: |
360° manually |
| Sample size: |
max. Ø380 mm x 220 mm |
| Stage size: |
450 × 550 × 460 mm |
| Stage weight: |
75 kg |
| Stage technology: |
Piezo stick-slip motors |
| Noise level: |
< 0.5 Å (NaniteAFM 10-µm scan head in quiet environment) |
This custom-built translation stage was constructed to allow roughness measurements on large concave and convex samples. It features full 360° manual rotation of the sample platform and automated rotation of the scan head to accommodate the curved form of the various samples. The stage was designed for use with the NaniteAFM atomic force microscope.
