Design Features

AGC motorized mechanical goniometers are used in applications where 90 degrees of angular travel is needed with the payload at the center of rotation, or where two axes of rotation are needed about a common point. AGC goniometers are designed to be mounted to standard optical tables, as well as standard Aerotech rotary stages, to provide roll, pitch, and yaw about a common 3-axis intersection. This flexible stage series is ideal for optical alignment, payload tip/tilt, beam steering, sensor calibration, laser applications, automated manufacturing and/or testing, and multi-axis diffractometer systems.

Construction Features

The sizes within the AGC family are designed to be mounted on one another to form a three-axis rotary system with all three axes of rotation sharing a common intersection point. This allows compact pitch/roll/yaw systems to be created easily from a standard stage platform and without special adapter plates or mating fixtures. The drive mechanism for AGC stages is a precision gear and matched worm that are preloaded to reduce backlash. All AGC stages include optical limit switches and hard stops to define a ±45 degree range of travel.

Innovative feedback technology yields stable performance and negligible performance drift over the life of the stage. This is in stark contrast to inferior designs that must be continually adjusted to compensate for worm wear. All stage tabletops feature hardcoated aluminum, with stainless-steel Heli-Coil® inserts to prevent thread wear.

Flexible Options

Options include flexible motor selections as well as a direct encoder mounted along the stage travel to offer outstanding repeatability and to minimize hysteresis and backlash. Vacuum-compatible versions, for use in pressures as low as 10-6 torr, are also available.

Motor and Drives


Standard AGC stage configurations feature Aerotech’s brushless servomotors. A full range of matching drives and controls are available for a complete single-source solution.