SMAC Introduces Linear Motor for XY Measurement in Automotive Part Manufacturing

SMAC Moving Coil Actuators LXY25 series, a 50 nanometer resolution linear motor based XY stage incorporating cross roller linear bearing, 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 and required less than 4 micron tolerance on each bore. The customer originally decided to sort the parts into categories and match with sorted parts that are assembled into the bores by human hand.

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. Two LXY25s, with stylus probes attached, measure the bores from vertical down and side planes respectively. They repeat within 6 counts - or 300 nanometers

The SMAC patented "Soft-Land" method of contacting a surface and then measuring using a precise low force insures accurate and repeatable results. The size, 125mm x 125mm x 65mm, and low wattage, typically 24 Volt, 1.5A per axis, linear motor drive makes the device very easy to integrate, says SMAC.