Wobble Stick Overview:
The MTS Wobble Stick, as with all wobble sticks, is a 4 DOF (±23° pitch, ±23° swing, continuous twist, and a plunge range/stroke length as needed) manually actuated Atmo-to-XHV mechanical passthrough. It features an all 300-series stainless steel central vacuum chamber weldment that forms a contiguous leak free envelope. Actuation is achieved by permanent magnets which couple through the wall of the tube which comprises the body of the central vacuum chamber weldment. The in-vacuum actuation is carried out by means of a 0.25” diameter rod welded to the internal magnet shuttle.
The central vacuum chamber weldment for the MTS Wobble Stick is designed for reliable long term operation with minimal service. As the core functional component, the metal bellows are guarded and supported by the yoke assembly, protecting from accidental damage during mounting and operation.
The yoke assembly provides support to constrain the motion of the wobble stick to prevent the bellows from becoming over-strained. The yoke assembly also has multiple locating features to optionally further constrain the motion of the wobble stick.
- Yoke Lock thumb screws allow for easy, independent, and temporary locking of the pitch and swing during operation.
- Adjustable Hardstop jack-screws allow for setting limits independently along the pitch and swing for quick, precise, repeatable motion.
- Centering spring ball detents on both the pitch and swing allow for quick tactile rod centering.
- Lock screws allow both the pitch and/or the swing to be independently secured for long-term storage and/or during shipping in the case of a vacuum suitcase.
- A locking thumb screw on the shuttle body allows for easy and temporary locking of the plunge and twist during operation.
- Adjustable Shaft Collars allow for setting limits to the plunge/withdraw for quick, precise, repeatable motion. The shaft collars may also be used to secure the plunge axis for long-term storage and/or during shipping in the case of a vacuum suitcase.
Wobble Stick Specifications:
- Mounting: 2.75" OD Conflat Flange (CFF 275, DN 40 CF) standard (other sizes and interface standards available on request)
- Width & Height: 4.7" (6.4" including adjustable hard-stops at max retraction.)
- Length from flange-face to tube-end: 6.8" + stroke length (E.G. 17.8" for an 11" stroke)
- Weight: 3.4 lb (1.5 kg) for an 11" stroke
- Standard stroke/plunge length: 7", 10", 11", 12", 15", 18", 24", 30" (custom stroke available on request)
- Pitch & Yaw/Swing: ±23° from centerline (total 46° range of motion)
- Twist: Unlimited and continuous
- In-Vacuum shaft: 0.25” OD 304 SS (low-profile Omicron sample flag gripper, custom end effector, custom rod termination, and/or special materials available on request)
- Bakeout safe up to 200°C
- Leak rate: < 1 × 10-10 mbar ls-1