Motorized BiSlide® Belt-Driven Linear Stage
This Belt-Driven BiSlide® Stage is available in many standard lengths up to 228 inches (5.8 meters) and is designed to handle speeds up to 3.9 ft (1.2 m) per second using direct drive motors and high powered controllers.
Choose Belt-Driven BiSlide® Assembly for Long Travel and High Speeds
The high efficiency of the belt drive system makes it an excellent choice for moving light loads at high speeds and for continuous-duty applications.
This Belt-Driven BiSlide® Stage is available in a wide range of standard lengths—up to 228 inches (5.8 meters). Engineered for high-speed operation, it supports travel speeds up to 3 feet per second when paired with direct-drive motors and high-powered controllers. This configuration is offered exclusively as a motorized system.
The Velmex Belt-Driven BiSlide® is built with a motor and gearbox mounted at a 90-degree angle to the linear dovetail stage. This motor/gearbox assembly drives a stainless steel pulley, which in turn moves a steel-reinforced precision timing belt. The system can handle payloads up to 100 lb. (45.36 kg).
It can be configured as a single-axis stage or integrated into multi-axis systems, including parallel-coupled setups. Standard travel lengths range from 10″ to 228″, offered in 10″ increments. Specific design variations depend on selected options.
Important Notes:
- While 10″ and 20″ Belt-Driven BiSlide® Assemblies are available for specialized applications, travel lengths under 30″ are generally not recommended for high-speed or continuous-duty use due to practical limitations.
- When using the belt-driven system in vertical applications, special care must be taken. Unlike fine-pitch lead screws, the belt system does not “self-lock” and may back-drive under load.
- Several gear reduction options are available for applications requiring higher resolution at lower speeds.
The belt drive assembly consists of a motor/gearbox mounted perpendicular to the stage. The motor output is directly coupled to a stainless steel pulley, which drives the steel-reinforced timing belt. Compared to screw-driven BiSlide® systems, the belt-driven version has a larger overall footprint and includes a 0.375″ under-hang at the motor. It also offers slightly lower positional accuracy.
While screw-driven BiSlide® Assemblies offer travel up to 80 inches (2.0 meters), the belt-driven system supports significantly longer travel—up to 220 inches (5.6 meters)—making it ideal for applications requiring extended reach and high-speed motion.
Features
Maximum load capacity – 100 lbs. (45.36 kg.)
Maximum Travel Distance – 228″ (579 cm)
Long Travel
High Speed Capability
Smooth PTFE Linear Bearings
Long Life Anodized Ways
Impact Tolerant
Adjustable Limit Switches
100mm Advance/Turn (direct drive)
Precision AT5 Timing Belt
Stainless Steel Timing Belt Pulleys
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.
| Standard | Metric | |
| Travel Distance | 10"†† – 228" | 25.4 – 579.12 cm |
| Base Length | 27.3" – 245.3" | 68.34 – 623.1 cm |
| Slider Length | 8" | 30.32 cm |
| Weight | 12.9 – 83.1 lbs. | 5.9 – 37.7 kg. |
| Height | 4.12" | 10.48 cm |
| Width | 7.24" | 18.4 cm |
*Motors quoted separately. NEMA 34 units sold with .150″ motor mounting coupling.
††While we offer 10″ and 20″ Belt-driven BiSlides for special applications, they are not recommended for practical use for high speed or continuous duty applications.
‡Standard travel distances available are in 10″ increments.
BiSlide® Belt-Driven 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 | 100 lbs. | 45.36 kg. | 200 lbs. | 90.72 kg. | 300 lbs. | 136.1 kg. |
| Thrust | 50 lbs. | 22.7 kg. | 50 lbs. | 22.7 kg. | 100 lbs. | 45.36 kg. |
| Cantilevered | 500 lbs.-in. | 56.5 n-m | 500 lbs-in | 56.5 n-m | 500 lbs-in | 56.5 n-m |
Deflection: a = 0.000011 degrees / in-lb (F x d = in-lbs)
Coefficient of friction
Cantilevered Loads
Minimum Input Torque Required
Repeatability
Straight line accuracy
Belt Pre-load Tension
Pulley Pitch Radius
Advance per turn
Resolution
Operating temperature
0.09 typical
Equivalent center load= (dxF/2) +F d= distance from center (inches) F= Load (lbs)
75 in-oz
0.004″ (0.10 mm)
0.010″/ 10″ (0.254mm/25cm)
120 lbs (54.5 kg)
0.6266″ (15.9 mm)
1:1 100 mm ( 3.937″) 5:1 20mm (.787″) 10:1 10mm (.394″)
1:1 .250 mm (.020″) 5:1 .050mm (.002″) 10:1 .025mm (.001″)
23 to 158° F (-5 to 70° C)
Information on stage composition, tolerances, wear and design for specialty applications.
Note Minimum move increment at full rated load is resolution x 10
Knowledge Base
Options/Accessories for Motorized BiSlide®Assemblies
Several options can be added to BiSlide® Assemblies to make them more versatile and configurable with other Velmex products.
BiSlide® Limits
Limit switches mounted in the track on the side rib of the assembly to prevent over-travel.
NEMA 23 VML231-3.0-D Motor
NEMA 23 Motor for UniSlide®, XSlide®, BiSlide® and B48 Series Rotary Stages
NEMA 23 VML232-4.0-D Motor
NEMA 23 Motor for UniSlide® BiSlide® and B48 Series Rotary Stages
NEMA 34 VML341-4.0-D Motor
Compatible with UniSlide®, BiSlide®, BiSlide® Parallel Coupled, and BiSlide® Belt Driven Assemblies
VRO™ Encoder Readout
The Velmex VRO™ Encoder Readout is a compact one or two axes digital readout for linear and rotary incremental encoders.
VXC™ Stepper Motor Controller
The new VXC is a plug and play microstepping motor controller / driver with the ability to run up to 4 axes simultaneously. This easy to setup bipolar controller has the ability to be run standalone, or be integrated into a system.
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® 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® Limits
Limit switches mounted in the track on the side rib of the assembly to prevent over-travel.
BiSlide® Scale on Base
The BiSlide® Scale on Base option includes a precision engraved English or Metric scale on the assembly base.
Encoders
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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belt-Driven BiSlide® Dimensional Drawings | Dimensional drawings for the Belt-Drive BiSlide® | |||
| BiSlide Belt Drive Parallel Coupled Assy.pdf | Instructions – Assembly of the Parallel-Coupled Belt-Drive (motor-driven) BiSlide System | |||
| BiSlide Dimensional Drawing | 2D Dimensional Drawings | |||
| BiSlide PC4 Parallel Coupled .pdf | Instructions – Assembly of the Parallel-Coupled BiSlide System – PC4 | |||
| BiSlide® Belt-Driven Spec Sheet | Overview with specifications of the Belt-Drive Assembly | |||
| MB10_0100_M100_33_6Cleats_PK296xx-SGxx.sat | Belt Drive, 10″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 6 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_0100_M100_33_6Cleats_PK296xx-SGxx.stp | Belt Drive, 10″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 6 Cleats | stp | stp | |
| MB10_0200_M100_33_6Cleats_20in Beltdrive.sat | Belt Drive, 20″ Travel – 6 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_0200_M100_33_6Cleats_PKG96_20in Beltdrive.stp | Belt Drive, 20″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 6 Cleats | stp | stp | |
| MB10_0300_M100_33_8Cleats_30in Beltdrive.sat | Belt Drive, 30″ Travel – 8 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_0300_M100_33_8Cleats_PKG96_30in Beltdrive.stp | Belt Drive, 30″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 8 Cleats | stp | stp | |
| MB10_0400_M100_33_10Cleats_40in Beltdrive.sat | Belt Drive, 40″ Travel – 10 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_0400_M100_33_10Cleats_PKG96_40in Beltdrive.stp | Belt Drive, 40″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 10 Cleats | stp | stp | |
| MB10_0500_M100_33_12Cleats_50in Beltdrive.sat | Belt Drive, 50″ Travel – 12 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_0500_M100_33_12Cleats_PK296xx-SGxx_50in Beltdrive.stp | Belt Drive, 50″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 12 Cleats | stp | stp | |
| MB10_0600_M100_33_14Cleats_50in Beltdrive.sat | Belt Drive, 60″ Travel – 14 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_0600_M100_33_14Cleats_PK296xx-SGxx_60in Beltdrive.stp | Belt Drive, 60″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 14 Cleats | stp | stp | |
| MB10_0800_M100_33_16Cleats_80in Beltdrive.sat | Belt Drive, 80″ Travel – 16 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_0800_M100_33_16Cleats_PK296xx-SGxx_.stp | Belt Drive, 80″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 16 Cleats | stp | stp | |
| MB10_1000_M100_33_18Cleats_100in Beltdrive.sat | Belt Drive, 100″ Travel – 18 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_1000_M100_33_18Cleats_PK296xx-SGxx_100in Beltdrive.stp | Belt Drive, 100″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 18 Cleats | stp | stp | |
| MB10_1200_M100_33_20Cleats_120in Beltdrive.sat | Belt Drive, 120″ Travel – 20 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_1200_M100_33_20Cleats_PK296xx-SGxx_120in Beltdrive.stp | Belt Drive, 120″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 20 Cleats | stp | stp | |
| MB10_1400_M100_33_22Cleats_140in Beltdrive.sat | Belt Drive, 140″ Travel – 22 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_1400_M100_33_22Cleats_PK296xx-SGxx_140in Beltdrive.stp | Belt Drive, 140″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 22 Cleats | stp | stp | |
| MB10_1600_M100_33_24Cleats_160in Beltdrive.sat | Belt Drive, 160″ Travel – 24 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_1600_M100_33_24Cleats_PK296xx-SGxx_160in Beltdrive.stp | Belt Drive, 160″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 24 Cleats | stp | stp | |
| MB10_1800_M100_33_26Cleats_180in Beltdrive.sat | Belt Drive, 180″ Travel – 26 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_1800_M100_33_26Cleats_PK296xx-SGxx_180in Beltdrive.stp | Belt Drive, 180″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 26 Cleats | stp | stp | |
| MB10_2000_M100_33_28Cleats_200in Beltdrive.sat | Belt Drive, 200″ Travel – 28 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_2000_M100_33_28Cleats_PK296xx-SGxx_200in Beltdrive.stp | Belt Drive, 200″ Travel, PK296 Stepper – 28 Cleats | stp | stp | |
| MB10_2200_M100_33_30Cleats_220in Beltdrive.sat | Belt Drive, 220″ Travel – 30 Cleats | sat | sat | |
| MB10_2200_M100_33_30Cleats_PK296xx-SGxx_220in Beltdrive.stp | Belt Drive, 220″ Travel, PK296 Stepper -30 Cleats | stp | stp |
Request a Quote
If you have questions about your specific application or want us to design a system incorporating Velmex BiSlide®, please complete the Request Assistance form or call Velmex to speak to one of our Application Engineers.
| Motion | Linear |
|---|---|
| Maximum Travel | 80" (203.2 cm) |
| Minimum Travel | 5" (12.7 cm) |
