Applications
Ultra-precision air bearings are increasingly being specified due to extremely fine measurement and machining requirements in high accuracy applications. Many industry leaders and top research facilities and universities around the world are already using ABTech's air bearing technologies in the optical, semi-conductor, bio-medical and diamond turning arenas.
You will find ABTech manufactured air bearings and complete motion systems wherever ultra-precise, low friction and consistent repeatability are required.
Optical Lens Alignment
ABTech’s air bearing spin tables make ideal reference axes for assembly and inspection of precision and ultra-precision multi-element lens assemblies. The large diameter, clear aperture system shown here has a rotating center portion of the air bearing used for mounting the lens cells custom fixturing. The air bearing is supported by two trunnion bearings to allow for rotation of the centerline from vertical to horizontal.
| Semi-Conductor Wafer Inspection and Assembly | |
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ABTech's ultra-precision air bearing stages provide a low profile design while maintaining load capacity and accuracy. Magnetically preloaded carriages and ultra precision slides are ideal for wafer scanning systems, lithography, computer-to-plate systems, linear measurement systems, and vision system positioning stages where linear straightness measurement, precise positioning, constant velocity and static free friction are required. These stages are designed for cleanroom environments, incorporating appropriate materials, parts cleaning and captured exhaust. |
| Single Point Diamond Turning / Glass Optic Grinding |
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| High stiffness, load capacities and very low error motion make these spindles ideal for precision machining applications requiring ultra-smooth motion, high accuracy and speeds to 5000 rpm. The spindles feature integrated high torque DC brushless motors and rotary encoders. The motors are internally air cooled using the air bearings own exhaust air. ABTech air bearing spindles are ideally suited for precision machine tools, work holding heads, flycutter heads and grinders. |
| Planar Surface Grinding | |
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ABTech’s ultra-precision HRT-series rotary bearings combined with high torque brushless DC servo motors, digital drives, and high resolution rotary encoders offer ultra-stiff rotary tables. The 440C hardened stainless & electroless nickel plated steel bearing components provide excellent way surfaces and machine tool durability for these high performing direct drive rotary tables. Ideal as an additional axis in diamond turning/milling applications, as well as planar grinding, surface grinding, machining and heavy duty positioning. |
| Imaging and Scanning |
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Three of ABTech's rotary air bearing spindles are synchronized with a multi-axis controller for image scanning. This application specific design incorporated a 50 mm clear aperture with low inertia aluminum construction and rotational speed of 18,000 rpms. |
| Biomedical Sampling | |
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ABTech, inc’s Mini X-Y linear motor stages were designed specifically for biomedical sample handling and inspection where precise "pick and place" or "point to point" positioning accuracy is required. Mini X-Y stages offer a unique lightweight, low mass and low profile, linear motor positioning stage with workholding carriages providing load support, travel straightness and orthogonality for accurate positioning and repeatability. |
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| For exact "pick and place" production automation ABTech multi-axis air bearing systems provide precision accuracy for positioning in multiple axis. Designed for flip chip bonding applications these systems can be used in a variety of high speed precision manufacturing settings.
ABTech’s Z-Theta positioning head combines precision rotary and linear air bearings in a compact single unit which can be mounted to X-Y gantries or other types of positioning systems, providing two additional axes of motion. Both the Theta and Z air bearings are fully constrained for maximum stiffness and performance. The Z rail provides precise straightness over full travel ensuring accurate work piece placement without the aid of control system compensation. The standard Z-Theta system can produce and support up to 100 lbs. (45.4 Kg) of force in the Z direction with 2 1/4" of vertical travel and 210° of Theta rotation. |
| Synchrotron - Light Source Targeting, Crystallography & Goniometry | |
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For synchronizing high speed travelling particle beams in particle accelerators ABTech air bearing rotary tables with fine adustable tilt and center worktables are often used for targeting to create high intensity x-ray beams for molecular research. With precision accuracies as high as 1.0 µ" these air bearing tables perform an important role in the fields of crystallography where biologists and chemists are able to take microscopic pictures of molecules using these x-rays to determine the arrangement of the atoms in a solid. Goniometers using rotary air bearings measure the angles between the crystal faces of the molecules. |
| Metrology | |
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As air bearing motion systems are often the baseline to which other ultra-precision components are measured, ABTech inc. has developed ultra-precision Total Indicated Runout (TIR) Gages, Roundness Gages, Setting Master Gages, Precision Dual-Plane Thickness Gages, Optical Radius Gages and Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM). Incorporating our standard line of linear air bearings, rotary air bearings, tilt/center worktables, encoders and electronics packages and stable natural granite bases into complete packages provides certified reliable and repeatable metrology reults. ABTech T.I.R. series gages are engineered specifically for measurement and assembly of precision components. When measuring optical lenses and other manufactured parts for TIR it is critical to have a stable, repeatable gaging method. Using an air bearing rotary table as the reference axis provides the highest possible accuracy. Roundness gages also use these precision components for measurement accuracy. Setting Master and Optical Radius gages with ABTech air bearing slides on natural granite base are designed for set up of ID/OD measurements and pin-point accurate positioning. Featuring friction free horizontal travel up to 80.0 inches with 6.0 inches of vertical setting travel (on the Setting Master). |
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Download a printable PDF datasheet
Don't see what you need? ABTech welcomes the opportunity to meet your unique motion challenges. We have a successful track record for high quality custom design and manufacturing of air bearing, oil hydrostatic, and mechanical bearing systems for the most challenging motion and geometry applications. Contact us today so we can provide you with a solution to your demanding precision motion applications!
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ABTech, Inc. • PO Box 10296 • 126 Monadnock Highway • Swanzey, NH USA 03446 info@abtechmfg.com • Tel: 603-358-6431 • Fax: 603-358-0196 |
