Newport Corporation, a worldwide leader in laser and photonic solutions that Make, Manage and Measure Light®, announces the new SinguLYS(TM) family of single-axis air bearing stages. The new stage and bridge configurations combine high performance with modularity, making them ideal for single axis, split XY, and gantry applications. Newport will present the high precision stage family during SEMICON West, July 13-15, 2010, at San Francisco's Moscone Center, in South Hall booth #1807.

The SinguLYS S-370 stage is manufactured from silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic components, similar to Newport's popular DynamYX® and HybrYX(TM) stage product families. The body's extremely rigid and compact footprint with 3-point mounting allows this stage to be used in tight spaces typically reserved for mechanical bearing designs without the need for large, lapped mounting surfaces to maintain precise trajectory. The lightweight carriage features integrated pressure-vacuum air bearings which are guided by a precisely-lapped SiC body. Newport's new high precision stage is ideal for tasks with very high duty-cycles that require low angular deviation, tight velocity regulation, and high cleanliness standards.

The SinguLYS B-1200 air bearing bridge features a proprietary ceramic beam that is 3 times lighter than steel and offers triple the stiffness of granite. When used to replace a steel or granite-based design in an existing or next-generation tool, the properties of the B-1200 can improve acceleration and decrease settling times, which increases throughput and accuracy with minimal system redesign. The lightweight and rigid pressure-vacuum air bearing carriage accommodates high (10kg) cantilevered payloads with 2.5G acceleration and, unlike stages using mechanical bearings, minimizes contamination to the substrate below. Applications for Newport's B-1200 include Gen 8-11 flat panel display inspection, thin film photovoltaic scribing, and wafer processing.

Specially designed for frictionless operation, both the S and B SinguLYS series of air bearing products are extremely sturdy, highly reliable, and require no maintenance and/or lubrication. For more information on the new motion control products, please visit booth #1807 at SEMICON West, or visit www.newport.com/singuLYS.