A stage comprising: a base plate, a first translation platform having a first axis of motion, and a second translation platform having a second axis of motion; a first linear drive motor disposed between the base plate and the first translation platform and oriented in alignment with first axis of motion and seated within a first cavity in the base plate; and a second linear drive motor disposed between the first translation platform and the second translation platform and oriented in alignment with the second axis of motion and seated within a second cavity in the first translation platform; characterized in that: the first linear drive motor comprises a first coil assembly enclosing a first rod stator, the first coil assembly being restrained within the first cavity such that the first coil assembly is fixed with respect to the base plate and the first rod stator is movable within the first coil assembly, wherein the first rod stator is mounted to the first translation platform such that the first rod stator drives the first translation platform in the first axis of motion; the second linear drive motor comprises a second coil assembly enclosing a second rod stator, the second coil assembly being restrained within the second cavity such that the second coil assembly is fixed with respect to the first translation platform and the second rod stator is movable within the second coil assembly, wherein the second rod stator is mounted to the second translation platform such that the second rod stator drives the second translation platform in the second axis of motion, and each of the first and second rod stators further comprises a series of magnets arranged end face to end face such that the same magnetic poles are adjacent each other. a base plate, a first translation platform having a first axis of motion, and a second translation platform having a second axis of motion; a first linear drive motor disposed between the base plate and the first translation platform and oriented in alignment with first axis of motion and seated within a first cavity in the base plate; and a second linear drive motor disposed between the first translation platform and the second translation platform and oriented in alignment with the second axis of motion and seated within a second cavity in the first translation platform; characterized in that: the first linear drive motor comprises a first coil assembly enclosing a first rod stator, the first coil assembly being restrained within the first cavity such that the first coil assembly is fixed with respect to the base plate and the first rod stator is movable within the first coil assembly, wherein the first rod stator is mounted to the first translation platform such that the first rod stator drives the first translation platform in the first axis of motion; the second linear drive motor comprises a second coil assembly enclosing a second rod stator, the second coil assembly being restrained within the second cavity such that the second coil assembly is fixed with respect to the first translation platform and the second rod stator is movable within the second coil assembly, wherein the second rod stator is mounted to the second translation platform such that the second rod stator drives the second translation platform in the second axis of motion, and each of the first and second rod stators further comprises a series of magnets arranged end face to end face such that the same magnetic poles are adjacent each other. the first linear drive motor comprises a first coil assembly enclosing a first rod stator, the first coil assembly being restrained within the first cavity such that the first coil assembly is fixed with respect to the base plate and the first rod stator is movable within the first coil assembly, wherein the first rod stator is mounted to the first translation platform such that the first rod stator drives the first translation platform in the first axis of motion; the second linear drive motor comprises a second coil assembly enclosing a second rod stator, the second coil assembly being restrained within the second cavity such that the second coil assembly is fixed with respect to the first translation platform and the second rod stator is movable within the second coil assembly, wherein the second rod stator is mounted to the second translation platform such that the second rod stator drives the second translation platform in the second axis of motion, and each of the first and second rod stators further comprises a series of magnets arranged end face to end face such that the same magnetic poles are adjacent each other.