Probenachse

Probenachse is a term used in laboratory instrumentation and mechanical metrology to denote a translational axis along which a specimen or sample is positioned. It describes the linear movement component of a multi-axis positioning system that enables precise placement and alignment of a sample with respect to a fixed sensor, beam, or probe.

In typical setups, a Probenachse is part of a sample stage or micromanipulator. It can be manual, using a calibrated screw or hand wheel, or motorized, actuated by a stepper or servo motor or a piezoelectric element. Travel ranges may span from a few millimeters to several tens of centimeters, with resolutions ranging from micrometers in conventional stages to nanometer-scale precision in high-end piezo stages. Construction often involves guides or rails for straight travel, plus a drive mechanism such as a leadscrew or ball screw, sometimes complemented by encoders and vibration-damping features.

Probenachsen are usually paired with orthogonal axes to form a coordinate stage, and they may include angular or rotational elements for orientation. They require careful calibration and compensation for backlash, straightness, and angular errors, as well as environmental controls to maintain stability in precision measurements.

Applications span optical and electron microscopy, spectroscopy, and materials testing, wherever precise, repeatable positioning of a specimen is essential. In English, the term is sometimes rendered as sample axis or sample stage axis, and it is closely related to broader concepts of micropositioning and coordinate stages.