The de Fonbrune-type Stage-Mounted Micromanipulator is compact, about 1/4 the size of the free-standing model.

The receiver is usually mounted (alone or in clusters) directly on the microscope stage, providing a more stable platform than the free-standing model.

The mounting process may be considered to provide positional control on the scale of centimeters, especially if the receiver is mounted on a simple slide mount. The receiver coarse adjustment provides control on the scale of millimeters, and the joystick provides control on the micron scale--movement resolution approximately equal to 1 micron.

Pneumatic control gives you smooth positive movement, virtually zero drift and no backlash, not possible with mechanical or hydraulic units.

Separate joystick and receiver units are connected by pneumatic tubing and may be set up for either right or left-handed use. Through the microscope, the microtool appears to move exactly the same way as the hand.

A single joystick controls movements in all three axes, x,y, and z, leaving the operator's other hand free.

The chuck allows any suitable microprobe, microtool, or microelectrode to be quickly sealed to the chuck with a miniature O-ring compression fitting.