Dovetail slides are the simplest types of linear stages and are primarily used for manual positioning. They consist of two flat surfaces sliding against each other with the geometry shown below. Dovetail slides can provide long travel, and have relatively high stiffness and load capacity. They are more resistant to shock than other types of bearings and are fairly immune to contamination. However, they do have relatively high stiction, and their friction varies with translation speed, which makes precise control difficult and limits sensitivity.