Manual BiSlide® Parallel-Coupled Linear Stage
Parallel-Coupled BiSlide® Assemblies are the ideal solution for applications with large loads or long spans. Two identical BiSlide® Assemblies are coupled and synchronized to deliver the travel distance and payload capacity required by the application.
Choose the Parallel Coupled BiSlide® Assembly for Large and Long Traverses
If your application calls for large loads or the ability to traverse long distances in two or three axes, the Parallel Coupled BiSlide® Assembly is what you need. This assembly can handle loads to 600 lbs. (272 kg) and is available in many standard lengths up to 80 inches (203.2 cm).
Using two identical Lead Screw BiSlide® Assemblies and a timing belt drive for synchronous operation. Manual versions have a bearing assembly on both slides; a hand wheel knob/crank) drives the timing belt drive.
Constructed with hard-coat anodized, aluminum dovetail ways and smooth motion PTFE linear bearings; BiSlide® Assemblies deliver higher rigidity for longer life and more precise movement. Longer traverses include specially-designed separators mounted perpendicular to the base to keep the system in parallel and add extra stability. The entire system is comprised of our proven BiSlide® I-beam design and has all the same features of renown Velmex BiSlide® stages.
Use our inexpensive MC-2 Cleats to mount your Parallel Coupled BiSlide® Assembly to nearly any flat surface. For a free-standing assembly, BiSlide® can be cleated to the T-slot plate or base structural profiles.
Parallel systems are usually shipped unassembled to eliminate crating charges and trucking costs. These kits include detailed assembly instructions, all fasteners, hardware, and come complete with a timing belt tensioner. They can be shipped fully assembled if required.
Features
Maximum load capacity – 600 lbs. (272 kg.)
Maximum Travel Distance – 80″ (203.2 cm)
Specifications
Factors such as size of the motor, size of the payload, travel distance, mounting direction/plane, etc. effect the actual capability of any assembly. Please contact Velmex Application Engineers to configure a system that will meet your exact requirements.
| Coefficient of friction | .09 typical |
| Coefficient range | 0.04 (Heavy Load Dynamic) to 0.15-0.3 (Lubricated heavy Load Static>1 hour) |
| Operating temperature | 0 to 180° F (-18 to 82° C) |
Properties of Velmex Stages - Information on stage composition, tolerances, wear and design for specialty applications.
Load Parameters - Definitions and parameters that effect the various load ratings.
| Standard | Metric | |
| Travel Distance | up to 80" | up to 203.2 cm |
| Base Length | ||
| Slider Length | 5" | 12.7 cm |
| Weight | ||
| Height | ||
| Width |
‡Standard travel distances of 8″ to 80″ center to center measurement. Most Parallel-coupled BiSlide® Assemblies are custom; other specifications will depend on design and the components of the specific system. Contact a Velmex Application Engineer for additional specifications.
BiSlide® Parallel-Coupled Load Calculations
Note:
Because of the interlocking nature of the BiSlide® carriage and the dovetail ways, the maximum recommended load centered (normal) or under thrust would be comparable whether the slide was upright (Normal – LN), Inverted (LI) or set on the Edge (LE).
To calculate equivalent center load for a cantilevered load: Lc = (Dx L/2) + L
| Dynamic Load | Static Load | Momentary Load | ||||
| Load Capacity | lbs. | kg. | lbs. | kg. | lbs. | kg. |
| Maximum Centered | 600 lbs. | 272.2 kg | 600 lbs. | 272.2 kg | 1000 lbs. | 453.59 kg |
| Thrust | 200 lbs. | 90.72 kg. | 400 lbs. | 181.44 kg | 300 lbs. | 136.1 kg. |
| Cantilevered | 500 lbs.-in. | 56.5 n-m |
Deflection: a = 0.000011 degrees / in-lb (F x d = in-lbs)
Lead Screw Specifications
English Thread Lead Screws
| Pitch | Backlash Typical | Resolution | BiSlide® Code | |||
| Turns per inch | Advance per revolution | English | Metric | Degrees | English | |
| 2.5* | 0.400" | 0.002" | 0.051 mm | 1/200 rev or 1.8° | 0.001" | E04 |
| 5* | 0.200" | 0.001" | 0.025 mm | 1/200 rev or 1.8° | 0.0005" | E02 |
| 10 | 0.100" | 0.0005" | 0.013 mm | 1/200 rev or 1.8° | 0.00025 | E01 |
Metric Thread Lead Screws
| Pitch | Backlash Typical | Resolution | BiSlide® Code | |||
| Turns per cm | Advance per revolution | English | Metric | Degrees | Metric | |
| 5 | 2 mm | 0.00039" | 0.01 mm | 1/200 rev or 1.8° | 0.005 mm | M02 |
| 10 | 1 mm | 0.0002" | 0.005 mm | 1/200 rev or 1.8° | 0.0025 mm | M01 |
*Not recommended for vertical assemblies because the lead screw could back drive.
More accurate screws are available. Contact a Velmex Application Engineer for more information.
In manually operated applications backlash can be adjusted to near 0.
Resolution specified with standard Velmex motor configurations with 1.8° step angles using VXC Stepping Motor Controller.
| Repeatability | 0.00015″ (4 microns) typical |
| Straight line accuracy | 0.003″ (0.076 mm) over entire travel distance. Higher accuracy 0.0015″ (0.038mm) available |
| Screw lead accuracy | 0.003″/10″ (0.076 mm/25 cm) 0.0015″/10″ available. Consult factory. |
BiSlide® PC1 Manual Parallel Coupled Assembly
Options/Accessories for Parallel Coupled BiSlide® Assemblies
Several options can be added to BiSlide® Assemblies to make them more versatile and configurable with other Velmex products.
IM001-130-131 Plate
Payload plate to expand the carriage (8″ x 8″ x 0.375″)
IM001-130-132 Plate
Payload plate to expand the carriage (12″ x 12″ x 0.375″)
MSPP-1 Foot Plate
MSPP-1 Foot Plate is used as part of the foot for BiSlide bases and post assemblies.
MSPP-10A Adapter Plate
BiSlide Plate to connect to two carriages in one slide together with flexible mounting holes
MSPP-10B Adapter Plate
Tandem BiSlide® plate to connect to four carriages together for mounting Y axis Tandem on top
MSPP-2
Multipurpose adapter plate (4.6″ x 4.6″ x 0.375″)
MSPP-3 Adapter Plate
MSPP-4 Adapter Plate
Use to mount Rotary Table (A59 or B59 Series) to BiSlide Linear Stages
MSPP-5 Adapter Plate
Use to end mount BiSlide extrusion.
MSPP-6
Adapter plate to end mount BiSlide Linear Stage to an optical bench
XS001-20 Adapter Plate
Connects an XSlide™ Linear Stage to a BiSlide Linear Stage.
MB-1 Mounting Bolts
BiSlide® Bolt - 1/4-20 x 3/4" Socket Cap Screw (10 Pack)
MB-1-SS Mounting Bolts
BiSlide® Bolt - 1/4-20 x 3/4" Stainless Steel Socket Cap Screw
MB-2 Mounting Bolts
BiSlide® Bolt - 1/4-20 x 1/2" Buttonhead
MC-1 BiSlide® Cleat
Standard 1 hole cleat. Mounts the BiSlide to a frame / base / surface. Can be used to mount to other BiSlides in an XY, XZ or XYZ configuration.
MC-2 BiSlide® Cleat
Standard 2 hole cleat. Mounts the BiSlide to a frame / base / surface. Can be used to mount to other BiSlides in an XY, XZ or XYZ configuration.
MC-3 BiSlide® Cleat
2 hole cleat with 2″ center to center for use with optical benches with 1″ or 25 mm centers.
MC-4 BiSlide® Cleat
Sandwich cleats – used to connect two parallel bases.
MTN-1 T-Nuts
Use to create strong, secure attachments on BiSlide Assemblies.
BiSlide® Base Material
The extruded I-beam base is made from a hard alloy aluminum and includes T-slots on each side to easily connect BiSlides to each other or attach the BiSlide to a frame or base structure.
BiSlide® Foot
Acts as an adjustable foot for BiSlide bases and post assemblies. (LFS-1) (Shown with a MSPP-1 foot plate.)
F2 Style BiSlide® Base
These bases have I-Beam top rails running parallel on two sides and are ideal for supporting parallel coupled BiSlide® Assemblies.
F4 Style BiSlide® Base
F4 Style bases have I-Beam top rails on all four sides for maximum support of heavy loads.
Support Rails
BiSlide® Support Rails are attached to the frame or a surface to provide added support to the system, particularly multi-axis configurations.
T-Slot Plate
T-Slot Plate creates a heavy-duty support structure for building BiSlide mounting and framing structures or configuring multiple coordinates.
GST-1 BiSlide® Gusset
A compact, standard vertical support gusset that increases stiffness and stability for vertically mounted BiSlide® systems in free-standing, side-mounted, or horizontal configurations.
GST-2 BiSlide® Gusset
A larger, heavy-duty vertical support gusset designed to provide increased rigidity and load support for taller or higher-moment BiSlide® assemblies in free-standing, side-mounted, or horizontal configurations.
GST-U BiSlide® Gusset
A fully configurable, inline-mounted vertical support gusset that delivers maximum stiffness for custom-length, high-load, and tall BiSlide® positioning systems.
Post Assemblies
Attach at right angles to the BiSlide® Assembly to provide a convenient method to connect rotary tables or other accessories at a right angle, a distance from the carriage surface. Supports an adapter plate either vertically or horizontally.
BiSlide® Thumb Lock
An easy method to fix the slider utilizing a simple thumbscrew. Standard on BiSlide® manual knob-style stages.
BiSlide® Traveling Carriage Lock (-TCL)
This lock attaches to fix the carriage in place.
BiSlide® Way Covers
Way Covers protect the slider and dovetail base from dust, dirt and grit that could hamper the efficient operation of the slide, thereby extending the life of the slide.
BiSlide® Additional Carriages
Additional carriages (sliders) can be added to all models of BiSlide® Assemblies to increase the carrying capacity of the slide.
BiSlide® Revolution Counter (-12, -13, -14, -15)
The mechanical counter provides a convenient lead screw revolution count. This aids in determining position and providing a reference number for the location of the carriage / slider.
BiSlide® Scale on Base
The BiSlide® Scale on Base option includes a precision engraved English or Metric scale on the assembly base.
BiSlide® Vertical Test Stand
The BiSlide® Side Knob Base is a precision Z-axis adjustment assembly, ideal for optical setups, vertical test stands, or microscope stands.
Encoders
Manual BiSlide® Left-Right Screw Motion
When the knob is turned, two objects sharing a common axis of movement move toward or away from each other.
Motorized / Manual Operation
Right Angle Gearbox
Allows the control knob or wheel to be offset perpendicular to the BiSlide ways / centerline.
VRO™ Encoder Readout
The Velmex VRO™ Encoder Readout is a compact one or two axes digital readout for linear and rotary incremental encoders.
Velmex offers a multitude of options and accessories for all its products. Usually an option or an accessory will address your requirements. When it doesn’t, we can make custom modifications, including:
• Additional holes or slots. (A drawing is required.)
• Intermediate plates to mount your payload
• Special or in between lengths of the dovetail base
• Lead screw shaft extensions
• Choice of drive nut materials, including brass and Vespel
• Right and left-hand threads on the same lead screw, allowing a pair of sliders to move together or apart.
We can also offer customized configurations to address special environmental and vacuum applications.
Applications and Examples
Note: the example displayed may be a custom configuration, designed to the customer’s specifications; and not offered as a standard product. Custom configurations could contain custom, externally-fabricated components.
Downloads
The majority of CAD drawings found in our Technical Library are Step (.stp) files. You will also see .dxf, .dwg, .sat and .pdf files. For .STP files, you may need to right click on the download button and save the “target” or “link”. If you require a different format or cannot located the drawing you require, please contact us.
| Title | Summary | File Type | Link | hf:file_type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BiSlide – Attaching Elgo Magnetic Encoder – 714.pdf | Instructions for attaching a Magnetic Encoder to a BiSlide Assembly | |||
| BiSlide Cleat Recommendations.pdf | Instructions – Number and position of cleats recommended for BiSlide Assemblies | |||
| BiSlide Dimensional Drawing | 2D Dimensional Drawings | |||
| Parallel Coupled Assembly Instructions.pdf | Instructions – Assembly of the Parallel-Coupled Lead Screw (motor-driven) BiSlide System – external motor – PC2 | |||
| Parallel-Coupled BiSlide® Dimensional Drawings | Dimensional drawings for the Parallel-Coupled BiSlide® |
Knowledge Base
| Motion | Linear |
|---|---|
| Maximum Travel | 80" (203.2 cm) |
| Minimum Travel | 5" (12.7 cm) |
