It is a self-made positioning stage that allows linear adjustment of the Z-axis, and rotational adjust of the X and Y-axes. It could be for holding a sample or film for X-ray diffraction. It could hold a mirror for aiming a laser beam, although it seems too large for that.
What's that square in the center?
Is there some way to hook a vacuum hose to it? Those holes look like they could be used to suck a piece of paper onto the platform.
It might be an optical breadboard, i.e., something with 1/4-20 screw holes every inch for mounting the unit under test, although there appears to be mounting holes on the entire platen.
It looks very manual, so not much use these days, but some hobbyist might find a use for it.
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
I withdraw comments about the black square; on closer inspection, it looks like it might just be a piece of black paper or tape, since it's not even centered on the platen
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!