Hi everyone, I'm working on a project to build an XYZ microscope bot. My primary requirement is achieving at least 0.005mm accuracy along the XY plane, but I would love the ability to dynamically adjust accuracy using microstepping, ideally ranging between 0.005mm and ~100nm with minimal vibration. I'm considering modifying the ACRO system with a custom gearbox, but since I’m new to CNC (my background is software/AI), I’m unsure if this is the best approach or if there are alternative recommendations or ideas for hardware setups that could meet these requirements. Thanks in advance for your help!
See OpenBuilds Actuator Test Rig https://builds.openbuilds.com/uploadfiles/Part Specs/OpenBuilds® Actuator Tests_V2.pdf Strength and Deflection
Thanks for the response. The links show that the accuracy isn't high enough for any actuators, although the measuring device they used to test the accuracy had an accuracy of 0.01mm, higher than the accuracy of some of the reported actuators. Regardless, let me revise my initial comment... I care less about the long-distance accuracy and more about the minimal step size I can take. I'm just trying to estimate what kind of gear ratio I might need to achieve a minimum step size below one micrometer with microstepping, or if I might run into limitations and need a harmonic drive or similar. Edit: I would be happy if I could achieve just 5µm step size. I can use a separate flexure system for further accuracy.
microstepping is not accurate, higher microstepping is less accurate, you will achieve what you want with relatively large microsteps (4x or 8x) and a belt drive to the leadscrew to achieve the 'per step' distance you want. You will need ground ballscrews and you will need to have mechanical accuracy of 4 to 10 times the wanted movement so that steps do not correspond directly to 0.005mm movement, but rather say 4 steps gives 0.005 movement (roughly 2 tenths of a thoudandth of an inch). This gives better accuracy and repeatability and options for larger or smaller movements that you don't have if the steps size is the ultimate movement size.
