Remote three axis cable transport system

A system for accurately positioning a probe at any preselected point in a three dimensional space comprising:

• a probe, means defining a bounded three dimensional space including a support, said support having at least one guide bar extending along each of three directions of movement, and a guide block supported on each of said guide bars, said probe being mounted to one of said guide blocks, said system having means for selectively moving said probe in a plurality of directions including a cable drive for moving said probe in each movable direction, each of said cable drives including a motor and a cable means associated therewith, said cable means extending between said drive motors, guide blocks, and said support, each drive motor and cable means having a capstan associated therewith, each of said drive motors being in driving relation to its associated capstan, each cable means including at least one cable wrapped at least partially around its associated capstan so that rotation of a capstan by a drive motor causes said cable to move at least one guide block along its associated guide bar and thereby move the probe, and wherein a sub-assembly mounts the drive motors and capstans for two directions of movement, said sub-assembly being supported from at least one of said guide bars for said third directions of movement, said third motor for the third direction of movement and its associated capstan and drive cable having means to move said sub-assembly along its associated guide bar.