A SERIOUS KINEMATIC COUPLING

摘要

What are the design parameters for a kinematic coupling that must repeat to a few microradians and have an unheard of minimum life of 20,000 insertions and extractions? Actually 120,000 cycles were achieved, at which point testing was stopped.rnWhen the level of repeatability required of a kinematic coupling is in the realm of nanometers and microradians, instead of micrometers and microinches, serious attention must be paid to every detail.rnAt the first physical contact between the component parts, of the two platforms, of kinematic system, elastic compliance sets in. The deterministic limits, of the repeatability, of the system, begin to manifest themselves, right here.rnRather than dwelling on the inherent weaknesses we will concentrate on those positive factors that we can control to maximize function. The sum total of all the features of a serious kinematic system is that it must provide a "slippery slope" between the elements.