kantelstand

Kantelstand is a term used in Dutch and German technical literature to denote the tilt setting or angular position of a movable part relative to a reference plane. It refers to the current inclination angle that can be adjusted and locked in place during operation. The word combines kantel (tilt) and stand (position or support), and is used to describe a setting rather than a fixed geometry.

The concept applies across many disciplines and devices. In photography and optics, a kantelstand is the tilting mechanism on a tripod head or tilt-shift lens, enabling control of the plane of the image or field of view. In microscopy and materials research, tilt stages or goniometers use kantelstand to angle the sample for alignment, focusing, or measurement. In surveying, construction, and industrial machinery, instrument mounts and stands offer adjustable kantelstand to align devices with the horizon, tool axis, or work surface. Some equipment provides a range from near 0° to large angles, with finer scales or micrometer adjustments and a locking clamp to preserve the selected angle.

Operation and measurement: The setting is typically read from a scale in degrees or arc minutes, and adjusted via a knob, handwheel, or lever. After achieving the desired kantelstand, the mechanism is locked to prevent drift during use.

Etymology: from Dutch kantel and stand; cognate terms exist in German usage.

See also: tilt mechanism, tilt angle, tilting head, and goniometer.