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Glossary
Translated words
| Abhängig von Antrieb und Meßsystem! | Depends on drive and measuring system! |
| bei | by |
| Buchse | bush |
| Bohrbild der Planscheibe nach Kundenwunsch. | Drilling position of plan-table is customized. |
| Gewicht / Gew. | weight |
| Gewinde | thread |
| Luftanschluß | air connection |
| Typ | type |
| Verfahrweg | measuring length |
Alphabetic secuence
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
Absolute precision
Absolute precision is the deviation between the target position (correct value) and the actual position (displayed value).
Aerostatic bearings
Aerostatic bearings are externally supplied with compressed air. A relative movement between the bearing surfaces is, therefore, not required. After being supplied via the bearing gap between the bearing surfaces, the compressed air spreads to the bearing edge and is thus reduced to ambient pressure.
Air bearing
Air bearings are bearings and slides with or without movement between the bearing surfaces, i.e. the contact between solid bodies is prevented by air.
Why should air bearings be applied?
Air bearings are the perfect solution for all applications with extremely high demands on rotary and linear processes.
These applications can be found in measurement technology as well as machining technology.
How does an air bearing work?
An air bearing is a type of bearing which separates two solid bodies via a film of flowing gas.
There is no mechanical connection between a moving element and a static element.
A gas (compressed air) is pressed into a hollow space between the two bearing positions. This film of air separates the two surfaces.
The gas (compressed air) can then flow into the generated gap.
However, the air gap remains mechanically limited.
An air bearing is a type of bearing which separates two solid bodies via a film of flowing gas.
There is no mechanical connection between a moving element and a static element.
A gas (compressed air) is pressed into a hollow space between the two bearing positions. This film of air separates the two surfaces.
The gas (compressed air) can then flow into the generated gap.
However, the air gap remains mechanically limited.
Advantages of an air bearing
Since there is no mechanical contact between the individual bearing positions, these bearings are frictionless.
Due to the contactless transfer of movement (no rolling or sliding bodies), the process accuracy of this bearing is mainly only defined via the production accuracy of the bearing positions.
Since there is no mechanical contact between the individual bearing positions, these bearings are frictionless.
Due to the contactless transfer of movement (no rolling or sliding bodies), the process accuracy of this bearing is mainly only defined via the production accuracy of the bearing positions.
Anodising
The anodising process generates an oxidic protective layer on aluminium. In contrast to the galvanic coating processes, which apply the protective layer on a workpiece, an oxide or hydroxide is generated via the transition of the top metal zone.
The advantage of this method is a 5 to 25 micrometre thin layer which protects against corrosion.
The advantage of this method is a 5 to 25 micrometre thin layer which protects against corrosion.
Automation technology
Automation technology is a technique which applies artificial means in order to execute a process automatically and without people.
B
Bar
Bar is a unit for specifying the air pressure which can be generated with a compressed air system. It is a unit for pressure in physics and technology. The deduced and official unit for pressure is pascal (Pa = N/mm2). A pressure of 1 bar equals 100,000 Pa.
Bearing strength
Bearing strength usually specifies a maximum load bearing capacity.
The bearing strength of bearings or slides is expressed by the static and dynamic load rating. The respective load rating is decisive for the selection of a bearing or a slide in the expected load case.
The bearing strength of bearings or slides is expressed by the static and dynamic load rating. The respective load rating is decisive for the selection of a bearing or a slide in the expected load case.
C
CalotteA calotte is a surface of a sphere section.
Clean room technology
In a clean room, particle contamination is kept below specific values.
Clean rooms are required for specific manufacturing processes to prevent integrated switching circuit interferences in the range of fractions of a micrometre.
Applications of clean rooms:
Semiconductor production, optics and laser technology, aerospace industry, biosciences, medical research and treatment.
Clean rooms are required for specific manufacturing processes to prevent integrated switching circuit interferences in the range of fractions of a micrometre.
Applications of clean rooms:
Semiconductor production, optics and laser technology, aerospace industry, biosciences, medical research and treatment.
Clearance
Clearance is an uncontrolled movement generated by tolerating at least two parts. There is hardly any clearance with precisely tolerated and manufactured parts.
Clearance can also occur with older devices due to wear, overload or improper handling.
Clearance can also occur with older devices due to wear, overload or improper handling.
Compressed air treatment
Compressed air has to be clean and dry. Additionally, it has to guarantee a specific pressure and contain a lubricant which is important for the sliding parts of the pneumatic instruments.
Since compressed air is not clean and dry but enriched with condensation water due to the compression and does not display the required constant pressure and lubricant, it has to be treated first.
This takes place in a treatment plant or via a maintenance unit directly after the compressor.
Since compressed air is not clean and dry but enriched with condensation water due to the compression and does not display the required constant pressure and lubricant, it has to be treated first.
This takes place in a treatment plant or via a maintenance unit directly after the compressor.
Cosine error
A cosine error is a positioning error which occurs in case of an angular error between the drive and the driven part. The error results from the product of the position change and the difference between 1 and the cosine of the loss angle.
Cutting technology
In technology, all mechanical machining processes in which material is cut into a desired shape are called cutting manufacturing processes.
These include the following processes:
Turning, drilling, sagging, rubbing, milling, planing, broaching, sawing, filing, grating, abrasive brushing, scraping, chipping; grinding with rotating tools, belt grinding, honing, lapping
Turning, drilling, sagging, rubbing, milling, planing, broaching, sawing, filing, grating, abrasive brushing, scraping, chipping; grinding with rotating tools, belt grinding, honing, lapping
D
Dead volume
Dead volume is the air volume which stays enclosed in the air gap when the height is zero and which has to be additionally compressed if the pressure level in the bearing gap is to be increased. The profile heights of the bearing surfaces result in dead volume. The larger the dead volume, the longer the transient processes.
Eccentricity
Eccentricity, or concentricity, is the deviation of the centre of rotation from its central position during a rotation.
If the rotary bearing is perfectly centred, there is no eccentricity.
If the rotary bearing is perfectly centred, there is no eccentricity.
Electropolishing
Electropolishing belongs to the abrasive manufacturing processes, i.e. the electrochemical removal process with an external current source.
An anodic workpiece is immersed in a galvanic bath filled with concentrated mineral acid and subjected to a DC voltage. This synthetically generated corrosion leads to a defined material removal and at the same time to a levelling of the surface. The result is a high-gloss surface with enhanced corrosion resistance and a drastically reduced coating formation which facilitates cleaning.
An anodic workpiece is immersed in a galvanic bath filled with concentrated mineral acid and subjected to a DC voltage. This synthetically generated corrosion leads to a defined material removal and at the same time to a levelling of the surface. The result is a high-gloss surface with enhanced corrosion resistance and a drastically reduced coating formation which facilitates cleaning.
F
Friction
Friction is a force between two surfaces that are sliding, or trying to slide across one another. It can be either constant or speed-dependent. Various factors, e.g. lubricant viscosity, contribute to the total friction of a system.
G
Gap
The gap height limits the thickness of the air film for air bearings. It is composed of the shortest distance between the two bearing surfaces of the bearing position (height) and the profile height within the bearing surface. When the height is null, the bearing surfaces have contact.
Grinding
Grinding is an abrasive manufacturing process via which parts with narrow dimensional and shape tolerances can be produced. A rotating grinding tool carries an abrasive compound on its edge to machine, wear down and smooth other materials. In contrast to lapping, the compound is permanently attached to, e.g., a grinding wheel. Depending on the cutting force, the abrasive grain breaks away from the compound. The grains continuously break away in use exposing thousands of fresh sharp cutting edges. The grinding tool is therefore self-sharpening.
Advantages of grinding:
Good machinability of hard workpieces
High dimensional and shape accuracy
Small waviness and roughness of the surface
H
Hydraulics
In technology, hydraulics refers to a type of drive. Alternatively to mechanic, electric and pneumatic drives. Power transfer occurs via the fluid, usually a special mineral oil, but also water or defined ester or glycols.
Example at a cylinder:
Due to the supply of the fluid under pressure into cylinders, the pistons and piston rods therein are put into linear motion which is used for working processes and driving machines.
Example at a cylinder:
Due to the supply of the fluid under pressure into cylinders, the pistons and piston rods therein are put into linear motion which is used for working processes and driving machines.
I
Interferometer
The interferometer is a technical instrument used for length measurement, refractometry, goniometry and spectroscopy.
Waves omitted by the measured object are heterodyned to an interferogram via the interferometer.
Example at a simple convex lens:
The light coming from an object is directed from all points of the lens to the picture element in the focal plane creating the interference pattern.
Waves omitted by the measured object are heterodyned to an interferogram via the interferometer.
Example at a simple convex lens:
The light coming from an object is directed from all points of the lens to the picture element in the focal plane creating the interference pattern.
K
L
Lapping
Lapping is a method for obtaining smooth surfaces while maintaining narrow dimensional and shape tolerances (in the µ range).
In lapping, loose particles (lapping powder) roll and move freely over the workpiece. The tops of the abrasive grain remove the material which is subsequently cut off by the next abrasive grain.
Due to the minimum material removal, it is possible to achieve very high surface finish qualities, even with relatively large grain sizes.
In lapping, loose particles (lapping powder) roll and move freely over the workpiece. The tops of the abrasive grain remove the material which is subsequently cut off by the next abrasive grain.
Due to the minimum material removal, it is possible to achieve very high surface finish qualities, even with relatively large grain sizes.
Linear bearing
A linear bearing is an element in linear technology which guarantees a preferably frictionless translation of a movable module, machine or instrument while simultaneously maintaining the direction of motion - of a linear (axial) track.
Load bearing capacity
The load bearing capacity for linear plan-tables is as follows: With linear plan-tables, the load bearing capacity results from the permissible force which vertically influences the slide surface.
With rotary plan-tables, the direction of force runs along the rotational axis.
The load bearing capacity is reduced when the resulting force is not applied in the middle.
With rotary plan-tables, the direction of force runs along the rotational axis.
The load bearing capacity is reduced when the resulting force is not applied in the middle.
The load bearing capacity of plan-tables depends on the type of slide as well as on the primary tension.
M
µ
Mu (Greek Mi) is used, amongst other things, as the abbreviation of the SI prefix "micro" and equals one millionthof a metre(10-6).
Micromechanics
Micromechanics is the field of microsystem technology which deals with the design, production and application of the smallest (a few 100µm) mechanical components.
Micro cutting
Micro cutting refers to machining processes which use cutting technology to remove material in the micrometer range. This occurs with specially equipped milling, turning and grinding machines. Lapping is also a manufacturing process.
N
nm
In the SI unit system, nanometre (nm) equals one billionth of a metre (10-9 m).
Comparison: 1nm is approximately 70,000 times thinner than a human hair.
Comparison: 1nm is approximately 70,000 times thinner than a human hair.
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology refers to research in semiconductor physics, surface physics, surface chemistry and cluster physics. The collective term is mainly based on the order of magnitude, which is the same for all nano research areas, from a single atom up to a structural size of 100 nanometres (nm).
O
Optics
Optics is the study of the behaviour and properties of light.
Further subitem: Technical optics
P
Perpendicularity
Perpendicularity is the deviation from the ideal 90° angle between axes.
Pneumatics
Pneumatics refers to the application of compressed air in science and technology.
Compressed air is generated by compressing atmospheric air with a compressor. It is subsequently purified in a treatment unit and fed into the system.
Compressed air is generated by compressing atmospheric air with a compressor. It is subsequently purified in a treatment unit and fed into the system.
Advantages of pneumatics:
- Forces and speeds can be continuously set
- High number of achievable operating speeds
- Compressed air devices can be overloaded without damage
- Clean, environmentally-friendly medium
- Guaranteed explosion proof
- Compressed air is not affected by magnetic pulses or atomic radiation
Disadvantages of pneumatics:
- Compressed air has to be treated in order to remove dirt and moisture
- Forces are limited since the operating pressure is usually less than 12 bar
- The use of compressed air is inherently noisy. Silencers must be used to reduce the noise
Porous bearings
This type of bearing uses porous materials, e.g. sintering coal (as large-scale intake throttle). Since these materials are not condensed at the surface, they contribute towards the dead volume.
Precision
Definition according to DIN:
Precision describes how small the maximum deviations of independent calculation results are.
Precision describes how small the maximum deviations of independent calculation results are.
This collective term is used differently by various manufacturers. This can therefore also mean absolute accuracy, repeatability or resolution.
Precision machining
The term precision machining generally refers to cutting manufacturing processes via which high-quality workpieces can be produced. This quality can relate to the surface finish quality as well as to the dimensional accuracy. Manufacturing processes are, for example, grinding, lapping and honing. Precise parts can also be manufactured by turning and milling them at special machines.
Precision mechanics
Precision mechanics (also called precision engineering) is an interdisciplinary field within technology which deals with the development and manufacture of very small or precise products.
Pressure
Pressure is the quotient of a force (F) and an area (A), i.e. an effect which occurs when a force is applied on a surface. This results in the following formula:
p = F / A
p = F / A
Primary tension
A large rigidity at a high absorbability is achieved by primarily tensioning the air bearings. This occurs in a friction or form-locked manner.
Examples are weight, vacuum or magnetic force.
Examples are weight, vacuum or magnetic force.
Q
Quality
Quality is essentially about learning what you are doing well and doing it better, i.e. the fulfilment of requirements and expectations.
According the standard EN ISO 9000:2005 quality is defined as follows:
Quality is the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfils requirements.
It, therefore, specifies to what extent a product corresponds to existing requirements.
According the standard EN ISO 9000:2005 quality is defined as follows:
Quality is the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfils requirements.
It, therefore, specifies to what extent a product corresponds to existing requirements.
R
Rotary bearing
A rotary bearing is a rotational solid body which (radially) rotates around its own axis thus enabling a rotation of the component while simultaneously maintaining the direction of motion – of a radial track.
S
Slideways
Slideways are linear bearings where the power transmission does not take place via rolling elements (spheres or rollers) but via two consecutive sliding surfaces. Slideways are lubricated like slide bearings. However, a plastic coating is often used as an alternative. On the one hand, because the static friction number is approximately as small as the sliding friction number; and on the other hand, because of the excellent sliding and damping characteristic.
Slide bearings
With slide bearings, the shaft journal rotates in a bearing shell or bushing. The bearing force which the bearing has to absorb generates a friction force that tries to impede the movement during a rotation. There has to be lubrication between the sliding surfaces to ensure that the friction moment and the friction force is kept to a minimum.
Sphere
Sphere means spherical shape or spherical and refers, e.g., to the radius curve of a lens.
Surface finish quality
Surface finish quality refers to the roughness depth of a surface, usually in connection with the manufacturing process.
There are two roughness parameters:
Ra =
average roughness parameter; arithmetic mean value of the sum of all ordinate values within a measuring length in µm.
Rz =
average depth of roughness; maximum height of the profile; sum of the height of the maximum profile peak and the depth of the maximum profile valley within the single measuring length in µm.
There are two roughness parameters:
Ra =
average roughness parameter; arithmetic mean value of the sum of all ordinate values within a measuring length in µm.
Rz =
average depth of roughness; maximum height of the profile; sum of the height of the maximum profile peak and the depth of the maximum profile valley within the single measuring length in µm.
T
Torque
Torque (also called “moment”) is the physical size which takes effect when influencing the speed of a rotatable solid body. The unit is measured in Newton metre = Nm.
The formula is = M (moment) = F (force) * l (effective lever length)
The formula is = M (moment) = F (force) * l (effective lever length)
Technical optics
Technical optics refers to the design, construction and production of optical devices.
Important components and devices:
Optical parts
Lenses, filters, mirrors, prisms, apertures
Lenses, filters, mirrors, prisms, apertures
Optical components
Condensor, Fresnel lens, double prism, integrating sphere
Condensor, Fresnel lens, double prism, integrating sphere
Optical devices
Loupes, glasses, telescopes, microscopes, spectroscopes, polariser
Loupes, glasses, telescopes, microscopes, spectroscopes, polariser
U
Ultrahigh vacuum
Several pump types are used in applied physics to generate an ultrahigh vacuum. At first, mechanical pumps generate a primary pressure in the recipient (test vessel or closed hollow space) in the range of 100 to 10-2 millibar. Subsequently, turbomolecular pumps generate a high vacuum with a pressure of approximately 10-7 mbar. This pressure can then no longer be reduced without further auxiliary means, since some factors prevent this (desorption of absorbed water with low vapour pressure).
V
Vacuum
The technical term vacuum describes the state of a fluid in a volume at a pressure that is considerably smaller than the atmospheric pressure under normal conditions. An extremely high pressure difference is called a high vacuum or ultrahigh vacuum.
A vacuum can be produced in a closed hollow space filled with gas via suitable vacuum pumps which sort of ‘free’ the gas.
Technical vacuum is used, e.g., for the melting of metallic materials, research work, in electron microscopy and in the production of microelectronics.
W
Wobbling
Wobbling of a rotary bearing is the angular deviation of the rotation axis during an entire rotation.
ess Mikromechanik GmbH accepts no liability or responsibility for the correctness of the glossary contents. All the information has been researched to the best of our knowledge prior to being published.