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11 Principles of Precision Machine Design

The Eleven Principles and Techniques for the Design of High Precision Machines (P.A. McKeown)

1. Structure

Symmetry, dynamic stiffness, high damping, secular stability, thermal stability, independant foundation, seismic isolation.

2. Kinematic / Semi Kinematic Design

Rigid Body kinematics, three point support

3. Abbe Principle (or options)

Abbe Principle

4. Direct Displacement Transducers

Scale of laser interferometer(s)

5. Metrology Frames

Isolate measuring system from force paths and machine distrotion

6. Bearings

High accuracy, high averaging / low rumble, low thermal effects, low limiting friction, high damping

7. Drives / Carriages

Through axes of reaction, non-influencing couplings and clamps

8. Thermal Effects

Eliminate / minimise thermal inputs and drift, stabilisation, compensation

9. Servo-Drives and Control (CNC)

High stiffness, response, bandwidth, zero following errors, dynamic position loop, synchronisation

10. Error Budgeting

(i) Geometrical-angular, straightness and orthogonal error motion

(ii) Thermal-loop expansions, deformations

11. Error Compensation

Linear, planar, volumetric, quasi-static and dynamic

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