A new 50 nanometer resolution linear motor based XY stage, LXY25 series, incorporating cross roller linear bearing has been developed by SMAC Corporation. It has been used to solve a critical automotive part problem at a major Asian automobile manufacturer.
The part is a machined aluminium casting with 3 critical bores machined in it. Required tolerance is less than 4 micron on each bore. High volume traditional machining results in a variation of over 20micron. The customer decided to sort into 5 categories to much the 4 micron requirement.
In order to prevent rejects at the boundary between categories a maximum 500 nanometer measurement variation was decided upon. Since the part is a high volume one - one per automobile - a very precise and fast measurement instrument was required.
The SMAC LXY25 series of XY stage fits the requirement - indeed the customer said ''SMAC is the only solution''.
Two LXY25s, with stylus probes attached, measure the bores from vertical down and side planes respectively. They repeat within 6 counts - or 300nanometers
.
The SMAC patented ''Soft-Land'' method of contacting a surface and then measuring using a precise low force insures accurate and repeatable results. The compact size, 125mm x 125mm x 65mm, and low wattage, typically 24Volt, 1.5A peraxis, linear motor drive makes the device very easy to integrate.
With both horizontal and vertical line sections, almost any point in a three-dimensional room can be reached by the chain conveyor system. The wide range of standardised components and aluminium system modules enables bespoke installations to be created extremely quickly and easily, helping companies like Conrad Schulte to make significant improvements to productivity with minimum disruption and cost.
XY Measurement Instrument
