XYZ Manipulators, Single Bellow

VSM Instruments offers both single bellows and dual bellows XYZ manipulators. The single bellows solution offers greater simplicity where there is a single point of flexibility in the vacuum envelope to facilitate movement in all three axes. Our single bellows solutions offer a very wide range of flange sizes from DN40CF all the way to our MEGA manipulators with a 150mm bellows internal diameter to support very large sample stages.

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XYZ Manipulators, Single Bellow

VSM Instruments offers both single bellows and dual bellows XYZ manipulators. The single bellows solution offers greater simplicity where there is a single point of flexibility in the vacuum envelope to facilitate movement in all three axes. Our single bellows solutions offer a very wide range of flange sizes from DN40CF all the way to our MEGA manipulators with a 150mm bellows internal diameter to support very large sample stages.

Key Features


  • Flange sizes from DN40CF to DN160CF
  • XY travels either +/-12.5mm or +/-25mm depending on model
  • Z travels from 50-700mm depending on model
  • Motorisation is available for Z axis only or all three axes
  • Additional rotation stage can be added

When selecting an XYZ manipulator, it is important to consider:

  • Mounting flange
  • To avoid limiting XY travel, diameter of the sample stage plus the total XY travel must be less than the base flange/bellows inner diameter
  • Mounting orientation
  • Whether manual or motorised operation is needed.
  • Requirements for electrical wiring
  • How much movement is needed in all the axes
  • The sample holder solution and its orientation

XYZ Manipulators, Single Bellow

VSM Instruments offers both single bellows and dual bellows XYZ manipulators. The single bellows solution offers greater simplicity where there is a single point of flexibility in the vacuum envelope to facilitate movement in all three axes. Our single bellows solutions offer a very wide range of flange sizes from DN40CF all the way to our MEGA manipulators with a 150mm bellows internal diameter to support very large sample stages.

Key Features


  • Flange sizes from DN40CF to DN160CF
  • XY travels either +/-12.5mm or +/-25mm depending on model
  • Z travels from 50-700mm depending on model
  • Motorisation is available for Z axis only or all three axes
  • Additional rotation stage can be added

When selecting an XYZ manipulator, it is important to consider:

  • Mounting flange
  • To avoid limiting XY travel, diameter of the sample stage plus the total XY travel must be less than the base flange/bellows inner diameter
  • Mounting orientation
  • Whether manual or motorised operation is needed.
  • Requirements for electrical wiring
  • How much movement is needed in all the axes
  • The sample holder solution and its orientation

VB(U)HS Series Sample Stages

These VB(U)HS sample stages are designed to fit to our VBHVK Series cryostats, as well as directly to an XYZ manipulator or rotation stage when cooling is not required. Versions with cooling are constructed from gold-coated copper which facilitates excellent sample cooling due to a good thermal connection to the cryostat, and can be optionally configured for different sample entry directions. Cooling connection is either via direct contact to the cryostat or via VCR connectors and stainless steel tubing in the case of liquid nitrogen-only cooling. They can be equipped for 3 different types of sample heating – alumina heater, e-beam heating and direct current heating. The e-beam versions offer a higher maximum temperature than alumina but require a special sample holder with a hole for best performance.

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VBKPM12 Series XYZ Manipulators

The KPM12 series is a simple, compact, budget-friendly single bellows XYZ manipulator available as standard with a DN40CF flange size at both ends (DN50CF or DN63CF base flange by request). With a 39mm inner diameter of the bellows, to obtain the full +/-12.5mm XY travel, the sample stage support rod and any associated wiring must be 14mm diameter or less. The manipulator can be supplied with all axes manually-operated, motorised Z axis or with all 3 axes motorised. Z travels are available from 50-600mm. The manipulator has a maximum 10kg load on the z axis.

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VBPMK12 Series XYZ Manipulators

The PMK12 series is single bellows XYZ manipulator available as standard with a DN63CF base flange (DN100CF by request), and a DN40CF moving flange (DN63CF by request). With a 65mm inner diameter of the bellows, to obtain the full +/-12.5mm XY travel, the sample stage support rod and any associated wiring must be 40mm diameter or less. The manipulator can be supplied with all axes manually-operated, motorised Z axis or with all 3 axes motorised. Z travels are available from 50-600mm. The manipulator has a maximum 20kg load on the z axis.

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VBPD40LD Long rotary feedthrough for XYZ manipulator 4th axis

This long shaft version of the PD40 series rotary feethrough is designed to be compatible with our VBPMK series manipulators in order to add a 4th (rotation) axis. They can be manually or stepper-motor driven and are mounted on a DN40CF flange

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VBPHM series rotation / feedthrough assemblies with optional LN2 cooling

The PHM series feedthrough assemblies are designed to provide the motion axes to enable 4 or 5 axis motion on our VBPMK12, VBPM12 and VBPM25 series in applications where no cooling or liquid nitrogen cooling is required. If Helium cooling is required, please see our VBHVK series cryostats instead. They also include suitable feedthroughs to provide electrical connections to the sample stage, as well as optional liquid nitrogen cooling pipes and feedthroughs.

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VBPMM12 Series XYZ Manipulators

The PMM12 series is single bellows XYZ manipulator available as standard with a DN63CF base flange (DN100CF or DN160CF by request), and a DN63CF moving flange (DN40CF by request). With a 70.5mm inner diameter of the bellows, to obtain the full +/-12.5mm XY travel, the sample stage support rod and any associated wiring must be 45.5mm diameter or less. The manipulator can be supplied with all axes manually-operated, motorised Z axis or with all 3 axes motorised. Z travels are available from 50-600mm. The manipulator has a maximum 20kg load on the z axis.

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VBPM112 Series XYZ Manipulators

The PM112 series is single bellows XYZ manipulator available as standard with a DN100CF base flange (DN160CF by request), and a DN100CF moving flange (DN63CF by request). With a 102mm inner diameter of the bellows, to obtain the full +/-12.5mm XY travel, the sample stage support rod and any associated wiring must be 77mm diameter or less. The manipulator can be supplied with all axes manually-operated, motorised Z axis or with all 3 axes motorised. Z travels are available from 25-500mm. The manipulator has a maximum 40kg load on the z axis.

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VBPM125 Series XYZ Manipulators

The PM125 series is single bellows XYZ manipulator available as standard with a DN100CF base flange (DN160CF by request), and a DN100CF moving flange (DN63CF by request). With a 102mm inner diameter of the bellows, to obtain the full +/-25mm XY travel, the sample stage support rod and any associated wiring must be 52mm diameter or less. The manipulator can be supplied with all axes manually-operated, motorised Z axis or with all 3 axes motorised. Z travels are available from 25-500mm. The manipulator has a maximum 40kg load on the z axis.

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VBMAX25 Series XYZ Manipulators

The MAX25 series is a large single bellows XYZ manipulator available as standard with a DN100CF base flange (DN160CF or DN200CF by request), and a DN100CF moving flange (DN63CF by request). Unlike the PM125, the XY table is at the bottom rather than the top for maximum rigidity and a more compact minimum flange to flange distance for the respective travels. With a 102mm inner diameter of the bellows, to obtain the full +/-25mm XY travel, the sample stage support rod and any associated wiring must be 52mm diameter or less. The manipulator can be supplied with all axes manually-operated, motorised Z axis or with all 3 axes motorised. Z travels are available from 50-700mm. The manipulator has a maximum 40kg load on the z axis.

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VBMEGA25 Series XYZ Manipulators

The MEGA25 series is our largest single bellows XYZ manipulator. It comes as standard with a DN160CF base flange (DN200CF by request), and a DN160CF moving flange (DN100CF or DN63CF by request). The XY table is at the bottom rather than the top for maximum rigidity a compact minimum flange to flange distance. With a 150mm inner diameter of the bellows, to obtain the full +/-25mm XY travel, the sample stage support rod and any associated wiring must be 100mm diameter or less. The manipulator can be supplied with all axes manually-operated, motorised Z axis or with all 3 axes motorised. Z travels are available from 50-700mm. The manipulator has a maximum 30kg load on the z axis.

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