Machinery
Combining our knowledge of air bearings with machine design, we have designed and built a variety of high precision machines.
For example, the diamond tool grinding machine shown in the three images above, produces controlled waviness diamond cutting tools for producing contact lenses and precision metal optics. The machine has seven axes of freedom to accommodate for the necessary complex cutting angles and dimensions. Utilizing two air bearing spindles, the computer controlled system can produce tools with radius waviness' to a few millionths of an inch. In addition, a unique, in-process measurement system, directly mounted on the machine, provides for waviness analysis for higher precision and without the need for removal of the tool.
The small
rectangular gold bumps shown at left are the bond sites used for
electrical connection between a memory chip and its leadframe interconnect.
The bumps are only a few microns in width and height. Shown here,
they have been cut to a very accurate depth using a special CNC
micromachine flycutter which we designed and manufactured.
The machine, that provided the
micromachining capabilities is shown at right. It is fully automated and
utilizes an air bearing spindle for material removal. A laser measurement
system provides statistical bump height analysis for quality control of each
part.