Compact Quick Connect Component Positioners for 2" Rails and Stages

- Fine Adjustment of Platforms Along the Rail Axis
- Positioner Provides Up to 0.40" (10.2 mm) of Translation
- Return Positioner Travels Up to 0.17" (4.3 mm)
XRNN
Positioner
XRNN1
Return Positioner
Application Idea
Fine Tuning the Position of a Translation Stage

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Click to EnlargeFigure 1.1 XRNN Positioner
Click to EnlargeFigure 1.2 XRNN1 Return Positioner
Features
- Clamps Directly to 2" XRN Mating Dovetails
- See the Quick-Connect Stages Tab for Complete Line of Compatible Components
- Included Dovetail Clamp Screw has a Maximum Torque of 15 in•lbs
- Fine Positioning of Stages and Carriers Along a 2" Dovetail Rail
- XRNN(/M) Positioner:
- 1/4"-80 Adjuster Screw Provides 0.013" (320 µm) of Translation per Revolution
- Translation Range of 0.40" (10.2 mm)
- XRNN1(/M) Return Positioner:
- Spring Loaded Plunger with Travel Range of 0.17" (4.3 mm)
- Use with XRNN(/M) Positioner for Bidirectional Adjustment
The XRNN(/M) Translation Stage Positioner and XRNN1(/M) Translation Stage Return Positioner are designed to aid in fine alignment of stages or carriers mounted on a 2" dovetail rail. Each positioner includes a 2" mating dovetail that can be locked to a 2" dovetail rail using a clamping mechanism (3/16" [5.0 mm] hex), providing quick and convenient placement along the rail.
The XRNN(/M) incorporates an F25SS100 1/4"-80 adjuster screw to provide smaller, smoother movement than coarse translation by hand. The screw allows for 0.4" (10.2 mm) of travel before the interior of the bushing is exposed; longer adjuster screws can be installed if desired.
The XRNN1(/M) translation stage return positioner is comprised of a spring-loaded plunger integrated into a 2" mating dovetail clamp. The plunger can travel a maximum range of 0.17" (4.3 mm), and the compression spring tension can also be adjusted with a 5/32" (4.0 mm) hex driver. When used in conjunction, the XRNN(/M) positioner and XRNN1(/M) return positioner provide precision alignment along the axis of a rail. When a carrier or stage is placed between the translation stage positioners, actuating the adjustment screw pushes it toward the XRNN1(/M) return positioner, compressing the spring loaded plunger. Retracting the adjustment screw on the XRNN(/M) positioner causes the spring-loaded plunger on the XRNN1(/M) return positioner to expand, which keeps the carrier or stage in contact with the actuating screw of the XRNN(/M) positioner.
To use, place and lock the positioners along the rail so that they are both in contact with the stage or carrier. Loosen the clamp holding the stage or carriage to the rail, then turn the adjuster screw with a 5/64" (2.0 mm) balldriver to push the platform until the desired amount of translation is achieved.
For our complete selection of 2" dovetail components, see the Quick-Connect Stages tab.
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Build Multi-Axis Configurations

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Figure 107B Z-axis assembly kits allow stages to be mounted in vertical orientations.
Quick-Connect Dovetails

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Figure 107A The XR and XRN stages feature female dovetails on the bottom of the stage that mate with the male dovetails on another. The left female dovetail is on a retractable clamping arm, allowing stages to be dropped into place.
XR & XRN Dovetail Stages and Accessories
Our XR series manual stages feature quick-connect dovetails that allow for the construction of multi-axis systems without the need for additional hardware. The common dovetail feature with a single locking clamp makes it quick and simple to swap parts in and out while preserving excellent orthogonality.
Our selection of products with a quick-connect dovetail includes:
- Linear Translation Stages:
- Stackable 1-Axis Stages
- Pre-Assembled 2- and 3-Axis Configurations
- 25 mm Motorized Actuator Options: Piezo Inertia, Stepper, or DC Servo
- Rotational Stages:
- 360° Flat Rotation
- Tip/Tilt Goniometers
- Adapters:
- Z-Axis Assembly Kits
- Parallel and Perpendicular Mounting between 2" and 3" Dovetails
- Rail Accessories:
- Stationary Mounting Platforms
- Rail Component Positioners
- Base Plates and Rails
Most items are available in compact (2" dovetail) and full-size (3" dovetail) varieties. Adapters are available to interface between the two sizes. See tables 107F and 107G for all available options.
Linear Translation Stages
Thorlabs' Quick-Connect Linear Translation Stages feature 2 inch or 3 inch dovetails for which the female dovetail on the bottom of one stage mates to the male dovetail on another as shown in Figure 107A. Many of these stages have micrometers that can be switched between end-mounted and side-mounted configurations (see Figures 107C and 107D). We also offer vertical translation stages that feature graduated scales to indicate the amount of translation. In Figure 107E, the base plate of a vertical stage is removed to expose the mounting boss which enables additional mounting configurations. The stages featuring 25 mm of travel can also be paired with motors. For specific information on our Quick-Connect Linear Translation stages please see Table 107F.

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Figure 107C Stages are available with either a side- or end-mounted micrometer. The stage can be converted from one configuration to the other using our Micrometer Conversion Kits and a standard set of hex keys or balldrivers.

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Figure 107D Stages with micrometers can have them mounted on either side. The side-mounted micrometer can be swapped with the locking plate to create a left- or right-handed stage.

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Figure 107E The base plate on our vertical stages can be removed to access a mounting boss on the bottom of the stage. This allows the stage to be mounted on a base plate for a smaller footprint or a rotation adapter for coarse angular positioning.
| Table 107F Linear Translation Stages | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Pages | Compact 25 mm Stages (Modular Motorized Also Available) |
Compact 9 mm Vertical Stage | Full-Size 25 mm Stages (Modular Motorized Also Available) |
Full-Size 50 mm Stages | 14 mm Vertical Stage |
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| Motion | X, Y, Z, XY, XZ, YZ, XYZ | Z (Vertical) | X, Y, Z, XY, XZ, YZ, XYZ | X, Y, Z, XY, XZ, YZ, XYZ | Z (Vertical) |
| Travel | 25 mm | 9 mm | 25 mm | 50 mm | 14 mm |
| Resolution | 500 µm per Revolution | 0.25 mm per Revolution | 500 µm per Revolution | 0.25 mm per Revolution | |
| Quick-Connect Dovetail | 2" Dovetail | 3" Dovetail | |||
| Additional Details | |||||
Rotation and Goniometric Stages
Thorlabs' Quick-Connect Rotation Stages provide 360° of continuous manual rotation and are offered with 2" or 3" dovetails. Our Goniometric stages provide ±8° of precise rotation about a fixed point in space and come with 2" dovetails. More information on Thorlabs' Quick-Connect Rotation stages and the XRNG Series Goniometers can be found in Table 107G.
| Table 107G Rotation and Goniometric Stages | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Pages | Compact Rotation Stage | Compact Goniometric Stages | Full-Size Rotation Stage |
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| Motion | Coarse: 360° Rotation, Fine: ± 5° | ±8° Tip/Tilt About Fixed Point Above Stage | Coarse: 360° Rotation, Fine: ± 5° |
| Quick-Connect Dovetail | 2" Dovetail | 3" Dovetail | |
| Additional Details | |||
Quick-Connect Dovetail Accessories
Thorlabs also offers adapter kits, mounting platforms, positioners, and base plates for our Quick-Connect Dovetail Stages.
| Stage Adapters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Z-Axis Assembly Kits | ![]() |
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| Compact Z-Axis Assembly Kits, 2" Dovetails |
Full-Size Z-Axis Assembly Kits, 3" Dovetails |
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| Parallel Mounting Adapters |
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| Parallel Mounting Adapter, Male 2" Dovetail to Female 3" Dovetail |
Parallel Mounting Adapter, Male 3" Dovetail to Female 3" Dovetail |
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| Perpendicular Mounting Adapter |
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| Perpendicular Mounting Adapter Male 2" Dovetail to Female 3" Dovetail | ||
| Dovetail Accessories | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mounting Platforms | ![]() |
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| 2" Mounting Platforms | 3" Mounting Platforms | |
| Rail Positioners | ![]() |
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| 2" Rail Positioners | 3" Rail Positioners | |
| Dovetail Bases | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Plates | ![]() |
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| 2" Dovetail Base Plate | 3" Dovetail Base Plate with Rotational Adjustment | ||
| Rails / Extended Bases |
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| 2" Dovetail Rails | 3" Dovetail Rails | ||
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2" Rail Platform Positioners