In recent years there have been efforts to make smaller and smaller, or miniature, machine tools. The reasoning is that for making smaller parts, the machine tools should be smaller, as well. For example, a standard ultra-precision air-bearing spindle lathe might be able to make a part 250 mm in diameter; however, the maximum size part needed in the miniature shop might be only 25 mm in diameter, or one-tenth that size. Why not just make a lathe one-tenth the size? A smaller machine would be much lighter and easier to move around, but would it be easier and cheaper to make? And even more important, would it be as accurate as the bigger machine? To answer these questions we can look at some of the principles involved in scaling mechanical systems.
展开▼
