Chambers and Mirror Manipulators can be top, bottom or side mounted. Single and double stem versions are available. Our patent pending motions provide independent actuation of Roll, Pitch, Yaw as well as X, Y and Z. The mirror cradles designed to mount these large optics are usually provided with a protective shield (shown partially removed in the photo). A shield will prevent inadvertent contact with, or damage to the optical working surface during installation or removal. Manipulator actuator stems are available in solid or hollow configurations. The hollow versions provide space to accommodate cooling lines for optics. Cooling lines terminate in a CF flange that permits connection of cooling lines to optics. The hollow stem version has provisions for maintaining a mechanical vacuum around cooling lines in the stem.

Chamber and Mirror Manipulators. The UHV chamber and manipulator is designed to securely mount and accurately align mirrors as long as 1500mm.

McPherson UHV designs place all moving parts and actuators outside the vacuum environment, only a mirror cradle and the optic itself are exposed. The chamber is isolated from the manipulator, only two bellows tie the components together and create the vacuum interface - thermal and pumping stress on chambers and stands do not impair positioning accuracy of the manipulator.

• Manipulators are designed and constructed to operate with our mirror mounts and chambers. All UHV components are RGA tested to 10^-10torr.
• All mirror motions are through the apex of the mirror (pat. pending), these include X, Y, Z, Roll, Pitch and Yaw.
• Manipulators are available with single stem feedthroughs (for small mirrors) or double stem feedthroughs (for large mirrors up to 1500mm long).
• Manipulation mechanisms can be mounted in any orientation on the appropriate ports of UHV vacuum chambers.
• Mechanisms controlling the manipulators are all located external to the vacuum.
• All motions can be supplied as piezo actuated (PZT), as stepper/encoder driven (with full software control), or as manually adjustable systems.
• Manipulator stems (straight or curved with curved bellows for yaw) can be supplied solid or hollow in order to accommodate optic cooling lines.*
• Pumping and thermal stresses on chambers and stands do not impair manipulator precision and accuracies.

* Hollow stem versions are intended for systems utilizing cooled optics - stress free transfer and space is provided for all metal seal terminated cooling lines. All metal seals, as Conflats (a trademark of Varian Corp.), are used to connect cooling lines to optics. Provisions are made to maintain a protective mechanical vacuum around cooling lines in the manipulator stem and at the Conflat interface, ensuring a safe system. Space for PZT control lines through manipulator stems permit control of bending mirrors or fine adjustable mirror cradles minimizing exposure of power connections to UHV environment.