MDE881 - Elliot Gold™ Series Professional Workstation

Elliot Gold™ Professional Workstation   

MDE881   

Optical workstation with six independent axes of manipulation. Designed for precise alignment of both input and output fibres to an optical waveguide device.

• 6-Axis precision manipulation
• All 6 axes are truly independent of each other
• No cross-talk
• Direct readout of waveguide Y axis position.
• Fast rack & pinion drive enables easy access to central workstation for simple loading
• Portable & stable - no need for an optical table.
• Incorporates two Elliot Gold™ Series XYZ Flexure Stages (MDE122) with 20 nm sensitivity.

Setting a new standard in device/waveguide manipulation
Alignment of single mode fibres (US: fibers) to photonic devices is a demanding task and the Elliot/Martock range of precision positioners was originally developed to address this application. With dual interface optical waveguide devices however, things become more complicated as it is necessary to align fibres (or fibre arrays) to both the input and output facets of a device.

The MDE881 Workstation has been designed specifically to provide the multiple degrees of motion required for this type of critical alignment and is suitable for use with a wide range of devices and fibre types for both characterisation and pigtailing applications.

The Elliot Gold™ Series Professional Workstation MDE881 comprises two patented XYZ Flexure Stages^† mounted on a base plate, with a central stage for rotation, tilt and transverse motion. The XYZ Flexure Stages incorporate patented High Precision Adjusters^††.

For enhanced operator convenience and productivity, each of these XYZ flexure stages can be moved away from the central stage by 40 mm travel on a rack and pinion drive. This allows rapid outward movement of the XYZ stages holding the fibres in order to access the central stage and hence facilitates loading of the workstation.

Adjustable end-stops are provided to prevent the fibres touching the waveguide facets and to accurately re-locate them. Digital readout of the Y travel is provided to allow the operator to read waveguide positions. Thus stepping the fibre across the substrate to locate individual waveguides becomes a simple task.

The XYZ flexure stages can be fitted with single fibre or ribbon fibre holders, this latter type also having a rotation feature e.g MDE717. All other XYZ flexure stage top plate accessories are compatible.

The central stage provides roll (θx) and pitch (θy) at a height of 125 mm from the bottom of the base plate and these both coincide with the yaw (θz) axis at a height of 18 mm above the middle of the top plate of the θz rotation unit. All six axes are truly independent of each other with no crosstalk. Rotation axes are defined by curved bearings hence rotation is always in a true arc.