New approaches for an automated production in ultra-precision machining

Automation solutions ensure determinism and reproducibility for the handling and aligning of work pieces and tools in micro- and ultra-precision technologies. Automation in this context means the handling and alignment of parts and tools within the entire process chain to achieve adjustment and alignment accuracies at a level well below 0.5 μm. The exact knowledge about the position and the condition of the work pieces and tools throughout the entire process chain is the key issue in the automated production chain. This knowledge enables the exact referencing of the work piece within the machine tool coordinate system and an offset compensation by the machine tool axes as well as by active work piece clamping devices. The automation solutions enable a cost-effective, ultra-high quality production technology for the achievement of nanometre form accuracies and super smooth surface finishes. These are required for ultra-precise components in biomedical-, sensor- as well as consumer goods applications and are revolutionary throughout the world's technologies.