Originally Published EMDM November/December
2004
Technology News
Rotary Stage Enables Precision Machining of Small-Diameter ComponentsNorbert Sparrow
 |
| A rotary stage developed for stent manufacturing is suited for machining a number of other small-diameter and precision tubular components. |
Initially designed for the precise high-throughput manufacture of stents, a
rotary stage with integral collet can be applied to a range of other machining
tasks involving small-diameter parts. The ASR1100 from Aerotech Ltd. (Aldermaston,
Berks, UK) can increase throughput by a factor of 4 to 6 times compared with
gear- and belt-driven systems, says the firm. It also can improve product consistency
and reduce scrap.
The stage has a pneumatically operated collet chuck and clear aperture for product
feed-through. The ER16 collet supports stock measuring 0.5–10-mm OD. It
uses a maintenance-free frictionless rotary union, and operates in fail-safe
mode; in the absence of air pressure, the chuck applies full clamping force.
An integrated direct-drive brushless servomotor and high-resolution encoder
ensure smooth motion and precise positioning. Motor specifications include high
stiffness and peak acceleration performance to 3500 rad/sec2 and a maximum speed
of 2000 rpm. The encoder provides ±14.6-µrad angular repeatability
and ±72-µrad calibrated angular accuracy.
The unit has a footprint of approximately 155 ¥ 255 ¥ 95 mm and weighs
5 kg. It is described as a bolt-on solution for laser-based and other micromachining
applications.
The company has extensive experience meeting the rigorous demands of the medical
device industry. The ASR1100 can be applied to numerous high-volume and high-precision
applications, says the company, and is especially well suited for cases where
low cost of ownership is a prime consideration.
Copyright ©2004
European Medical Device Manufacturer
