air bearing rotary table price

With proper selection and integration of high-performance brushless DC servo motors ABTech’s air bearing rotary tables provide ultra-smooth and precise rotary motion. With high torque, high performance motor drives, our motion experts will gather your specific requirements and work closely with our motor suppliers to create/select a motor drive that suits your specific application. Whether you need sub-micron position accuracy with minimal settle time and stringent following error specifications, high-speed constant motion, or a combination of both there is an ABTech rotary table that will meet your needs.

ABTech’s modular design approach facilitates multiple system configurations to optimize the price-for-performance required in your application. This approach allows the user to define the level of control desired for the most cost-effective solution. Our complete engineering services allow us to respond quickly to provide a solution to your O.E.M. requirements for ultra-precision rotary motion.

Rotation tables with air bearings are used when rotary motion with the highest accuracy, smoothness, and geometric performance is required. Due to the lack of friction, these high precision rotation bearings and direct-drive motorized rotary tables can achieve angular resolution in the sub-microradian range. PI’s air bearing design and manufacturing group provides hundreds of man years of design experience along with the manufacturing and test equipment to produce high quality rotary tables with the tightest tolerances.

Rotary air bearings (air bearing spindles) are friction free, and all of PI’s motorized air bearing rotation stages employ closed-loop, non-contact 3-phase direct-drive torque motors, and optical high-resolution rotary encoders for ultra-reliable maintenance-free operation with basically unlimited service life.

Absolute angle-measuring feedback sensors are available to provide closed-loop control with single digit microradian bi-directional repeatability. Direct-drive rotary air bearing tables also provide better eccentricity, flatness, and minimized wobble compared to rotary stages based on mechanical bearings. The friction-free design allows for high angular velocity without vibrations and noise.

Applications of rotary air bearing spindles / motorized direct-drive rotary tables include indexing, metrology, optical lens testing, bio-medical engineering, runout measurements of machined parts, and fiber optics.

PI’s high-performance closed loop servo motor controllers are available to precisely control position, acceleration and velocity, with advanced algorithms. Fully integrated multi-axis motion systems with linear air bearing stages and combinations with gantry systems are also available from PI’s air bearing division.

These systems designed to replace conventional compounded XY tables, where one axis is being carried by another. As a result, Planar XY Table offers greater reliability and performance realized through design simplification and elimination of wear-prone components.

Planar XY Table consists of moving element called forcer which glides on the frictionless air bearings over the special "waffle-like "surface called platen.

The ABRT series precision rotary tables from Kuroda Jena Tec utilise robust high precision roller axial bearings with an air bearing in the horizontal axis for smooth, precise rotary motion. The air bearing principle offers a compact overall height of only 100mm with a cost effective bearing solution and high geometric accuracy. A hollow shaft design means that centralised services for pnuematic or hydraulic clamping can be provided easily. Units can be supplied in either manual or CNC format with a standard range of torque motors offered.

This is a high precisions rotary table/air bearing spindle made by Professional Instruments Company, Block-Head model 10R-15. It was pulled from a state of the art Moore Tool M18-AG Diamond Tool Lathe and Aspheric Generator. It currently sits in the original Moore mount with all fittings, lines, gauges, and control cables. The table itself is universal however and can be fit to suit any need. The MSRP of a new, blank 10R is over $20,000. A blank 10R-15 retails for $30,000. This one comes with all of the mounting extras from Moore and we are only selling it for $15,000!

AB Series Air Bearing Spin Tables Rotary tables with high accuracy motion for assembly, test and inspection The AB Series tables utilise air lubricated hydrostatic bearings designed to provide very high radial and axial stiffness. This type of bearing offers significant advantages over conventional rolling element bearings permitting operation with minimal drag vibration and mechanical noise. The design principle of these bearings ensure axial laminar flow between shaft and housing compared with conventional orifice entry arrangements thereby ensuring exceptionally good motion geometry. From 200mm to 600mm diameter rotary spin tables with high geometric performance for assembly, test, inspection and metrology applications. High grade stabilised cast iron base and rotary platen, ensure rigidity and precision. Precision hydrostatic bearings designed to provide very high radial and axial stiffness. This type of bearing offers significant advantages over conventional rolling element bearings permitting operation with minimal drag vibration and mechanical noise. ROTARY PRECISION INSTRUMENTS UK LTD The Maltings Industrial Estate, Brassmill Lane, Bath, England, BA1 3JL sales@rpiuk.com www.rpiuk.com

Based on feedback from our customers and vendors Rhinestahl AMG is pleased to offer our Air Bearing and Manual Rotary Tables to our customer and vendors. Several customers and vendors while touring our facility have noted that this is an item that most definitely they need in their shop. For quick check on parts from Run-out of diameters to other critical checks Rhinestahl AMG Air Bearing Rotary Tables are preferred over C.M.M. saving both set up time and improved readings over C.M.M. averaging.

The PIglide RT series of nonmotorized passive rotary air bearings are designed for accuracy, precision, high stiffness, and ease of use. They can be used in any orientation and are easy to integrate with motors and encoders for complete positioning solutions.

The bearings of the RT series offer superior eccentricity, flatness, and wobble performance. Because they are completely friction-free, they exhibit no breakaway torque and no frictional resistance during operation. They are ideal for use in cleanrooms, require no maintenance or lubrication, and have unlimited lifetime.

The price of rotary table bearingings depends on the size and the design of the bearing. For wholesale rotary table bearingings, the price can vary depending on the size and the design of the bearing.

rotary ball bearings come in different types. Ball bearings are made of high-speed steel and in a wide range of standardized steel. For rotary ball bearings, they are made in high-speed steel and have a wide range of standardized steel.

B23Q1/50—Movable or adjustable work or tool supports using particular mechanisms with rotating pairs only, the rotating pairs being the first two elements of the mechanism

B23Q1/52—Movable or adjustable work or tool supports using particular mechanisms with rotating pairs only, the rotating pairs being the first two elements of the mechanism a single rotating pair

F16C32/06—Bearings not otherwise provided for with moving member supported by a fluid cushion formed, at least to a large extent, otherwise than by movement of the shaft, e.g. hydrostatic air-cushion bearings

F16C32/06—Bearings not otherwise provided for with moving member supported by a fluid cushion formed, at least to a large extent, otherwise than by movement of the shaft, e.g. hydrostatic air-cushion bearings

F16C32/0692—Construction or mounting aspects of hydrostatic bearings, for exclusively rotary movement, related to the direction of load for axial load only

A highly position-stabilized indexable table or “dial” in which the dial is supported relative to a steel surface on a frame by one or more air bearings. A flexure mechanically connects the indexing motor to the dial in such a way as to be torsionally non-compliant, but axially compliant to decouple the dial from the motor shaft along the Z-axis. In one embodiment, the air bearings are mounted to the frame at uniformly angularly displaced positions under the dial. In another embodiment, the bearings are partially integrated into the dial. Negative (suction) preload can be used in either embodiment to increase air bearing stiffness and/or to allow inverted processing; i.e., mounting part fixtures on an undersurface of the dial.

This invention relates to supports, commonly called “dials”, for precisely indexing fixtures for workpieces in and out of processing stations, such as laser drilling stations, and more particularly to a dial support system that protects the a against out-of-plane excursions while at the same time relaxing the performance specifications of bearings associated with a dial indexing motor.

It is known to use rotatable dials to index workpieces in and out of processing stations, such as laser drilling stations, where precise control over the location of the workpiece is required. The dial is typically circular and has a central, vertical axis of rotation, referred to as the “Z-axis”. A motor is mounted in a frame below the table for indexing the table on command. The frame typically includes a dimensionally-stable surface underlying the table.

In conventional rotary indexers, the mass of the dial is supported by bearings of the indexer motor bearings. To protect the dial against out-of-plane excursions; large, expensive and highly precise indexer motor bearings are required so as to minimize play in the thrust direction; i.e., along the axis of rotation, and in tipping or tilting as a result of radial play. In the case of large diameter dials; i.e., dials of one meter or more in diameter, expensive measures have been taken to prevent tipping or tilling when vertical forces are applied near the outer edge of the dial. The measures include increasing the size of the indexer thrust bearings and adding outrigger structures that engage the dial when in an indexing location. Larger thrust bearings add cost, and the outriggers consume processing time and can cause positional errors.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for a high degree of stability and protection against out-of-plane excursions for indexable dials without the expense of larger indexer thrust bearings and without the problems created by selectively engageable outriggers. In brief, the invention removes the task of supporting the dial mass from the indexer.

In general, this is accomplished first through the use of a flexure element mechanically interconnecting the indexer and the dial, and second by an air bearing system supporting the dial. The flexure element is non-compliant in torsion while at the same time essentially decoupling the table from the indexer along the Z-axis. The air bearing system supports the dial mass and allows smaller, less expensive indexers to be used.

As hereinafter described, the air-bearing arrangement can take several forms and may incorporate vacuum preloading as well as partial integration into the dial structure. For a complete understanding of the invention, reference should be taken to the following description of illustrative embodiments thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a laser drilling system 10 comprising a frame 12 supporting a steel plate 14, the top surface of which is leveled. Supported above the plate 14 is an indexable dial 16 supported by a system of air bearings 28 hereinafter described. The indexable dial 16 is designed to receive workpieces on fixtures 17 that allow the workpieces to be precisely positioned for processing steps such as laser drilling performed by a laser system 18 under the control of a real time computer 20. As soon as the dial 16 is on position, a command to verify alignment and laser a workpiece is given. A programming station 19 is provided. The balance of the system 10 comprises housings 22 for subsystems for providing power, temperature control, air processing and other needs for the laser system 18. Details of such system components may be found in co-pending application Ser. No. 12/394,966 filed Feb. 27, 2009 and assigned to Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.

described. The dial 16 is shown as circular and is mounted for rotation about a vertical Z-axis by an indexing motor 24 secured to the frame 12. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the dial 16 supported by four equally circumferentially- and radially-spaced air bearings 28, which may be of a type available from New Way Air Bearings of Philadelphia, PA. According to that company"s product literature, their bearings produce a fluid film achieved by supplying a flow of air under positive pressure through a porous carbon diffuser in the bearing. New Way Air Bearings are susceptible to use in a combination positive air flow/vacuum mode using both positive air pressure and vacuum ports to provide vacuum preloading, a feature that can be used to advantage in the present invention as it adds stiffness to the air bearings 28. FIG. 6 shows how the bearings 28 are mounted to the plate 14 by means of a standoff 30 and a spherical joint 31 with a fine pitch thread. The standoff 30 is attached to the plate 14, and the joint 31 is attached to the bearing 28.

The air bearings 28 lie approximately 12 to 15 inches radially outwardly from the center of the rotating structure shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and thus provide substantial support for the dial 16 when supplied by positive pressure from a source (not shown). As also discussed above, the air bearings 28 may be operated in a dual mode by connecting to a vacuum source thereby to provide vacuum preloading, which increases the stiffness of the air bearings 28 and also permits rapid switching to a mode in which the vacuum preload dominates and effectively sucks the bottom surface of the dial 16 onto the upper surface of the bearings 28 for positional stability during, for example, a laser drilling process. While four bearings are shown, it will be understood that a greater or lesser number may be used, three being the minimum in the case of discreet bearings.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a first alternative embodiment of the invention is shown. In FIG. 4, the motor shown at 24′ is mechanically connected to the flexure member 26 through a spacer 27, which is an output member of motor 24′. Flexure arms 44 of flexure member 26 are in turn fastened to the underside of the dial 16′. The dial 16′ is shown sitting closely adjacent to the top surface of the plate 14. The plate 14, as shown in FIG. 1, is supported by the frame 12. A vacuum and compressed air slip ring/manifold structure 46 provides compressed air to bearing inlets 36 that exit as orifices from the underside of the dial 16′ to provide the lifting aspects of the air bearings 28. Circular recesses or concavities 40 are milled into the underside of the dial 16′ and are connected by vacuum lines 38 to a vacuum source through the slip ring manifold structure 46 to provide the vacuum preloading aspect described above. The positive air pressure to the bearing inlets 36 can be shut off, thus creating a vacuum that draws the underside of the dial 16′ to the top surface of the plate 14 as previously described.

The flexure member 26 prevents Z-axis excursions from passing from the motor 24′ to the dial 16′, whereas the air bearings 28 provided by bearing inlets 36 and vacuum lines 38 with recesses 40 maintain the stability of the dial 16′ during and between indexing operations. The flexure member 26 also allows the dial 16′ to drop down against the plate surface as described above.

FIG. 5 shows a still further embodiment of the invention in which the positive and negative air pressure conduits 36′ and 38′, respectively, run through or under the plate 14′ rather than through the dial 16″ such as in the embodiment of FIG. 4. The embodiment thus eliminates the need for a rotary coupling, such as slip ring/manifold structure 46, to supply air to the dial 16″. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, compressed air from external of plate 14′ flows via lines or conduits 36′ to orifices in the plate 14′ under dial 16″ while lines or conduits 38′ are attached to an external vacuum source to draw a vacuum in milled concavities 41 in the plate 14′. Controls can be provided for regulating the positive and negative pressure flows independently of one another.

While the invention has been described with reference to several embodiments in which the dial overlies the bearings, it is within the scope of the invention to locate and size the vacuum system such that it holds the dial 16 against gravity, thus allowing parts to be processed in an inverted manner as desired. Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 7, where the dial 16′″ is below the plate 14″. The air pressure conduits 36″ and 38″ are similar to those of FIG. 5 but suction via conduits 38″ holds the dial 16′″ against gravity. The indexer, indexing motor 24, is represented by separator 27 and output shaft S and is under the dial 16′″. However, the indexing motor 24 but may also be above the dial 16′″.

3. A system as defined in claim 2 further comprising a frame supporting said motor, said plurality of air bearings being attached to said frame under said dial.

6. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a frame and wherein said air bearing means are mounted to said dial, said air bearing means further comprising vacuum means for providing pneumatic forces tending to draw said dial toward said frame.

7. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the air bearing means is arranged to hold the dial against the force of gravity such that the dial is inverted.