Once an important accessory for petrographic microscope and a valuable tool in mineralogical and petrofabric work, the Universal Stage (U-stage) has been dubbed obsolete with the advent of electron microprobe and XRD, and subsequent phasing out of the production of the optical equipment. Modern-day fabric analysis also relies more on far more expensive texture goniometers, neutron activation analysis and electron back-scattered diffraction analysis (EBSD) equipment. However, routine measurements of crystallographic fabric elements of uniaxial mineral aggregates (quartz- and calcite c-axis), principal axes of important biaxial minerals like olivine, strength of mica (001) fabric, paleostress estimate from mechanical twins (e-twin) in calcite, and evaluation of meteorite impact texture in quartz as well as impact history of asteroids, can still be done by U-stage knowledgeably and in a cost effective manner, subject to adequate training by efficient instructors. In the cases of e-twin in individual calcite grains and planar deformation features in natural shocked quartz, U-stage measurement cannot still be replaced by EBSD. An abridged review of the science behind U-stage procedure with examples of actual application has been presented to rekindle the interest.

通用载物台 (U-stage) 曾经是岩相显微镜的重要附件以及矿物学和岩石织物工作中的重要工具，但随着电子显微探针和 XRD 的出现以及随后逐步淘汰光学设备的生产，它已被称为过时。现代织物分析也更多地依赖更昂贵的纹理测角仪、中子活化分析和电子背散射衍射分析 (EBSD) 设备。然而，单轴矿物聚集体（石英和方解石c轴）的晶体结构元素的常规测量、橄榄石等重要双轴矿物的主轴、云母 (001) 织物的强度、机械孪晶的古应力估计 ( e-twin) 在方解石中，石英中陨石撞击纹理的评估以及小行星的撞击历史，仍然可以通过 U-stage 知识渊博且具有成本效益的方式来完成，但须接受高效指导员的充分培训。在单个方解石颗粒中的e-孪晶和天然冲击石英中的平面变形特征的情况下，U 级测量仍然不能被 EBSD 取代。U 阶段程序背后的科学与实际应用的例子已被简要回顾，以重新点燃兴趣。