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Kinematic Applications for Science and Research Equipment
When used to assemble system component "A" onto system component "B", kinematic mounts provide four main underlying benefits:
- Zero stress. Neither component is ever stressed due to being in the assembly. For example, if component A is an enclosure box, and component B is a warp-sensitive piece of equipment such as an optical bed, then even if component A was to deform due to mechanical or thermal (CTE) stresses, component B might move, but would never warp. (This is true even in the case of a four-legged kinematic mount!).
- Loose fab tolerances. There is no requirements that the mating elements be assembled onto the two system components with a high degree of accuracy in order for the mount to function accurately.
- Repeatability. If the mount is de-mated and then re-mated, the two components return to the same spatial position relative to each other, with very high accuracy.
- Rigidity. The connection is highly rigid, and will not experience creep or stick-slip behavior during changing thermal or load conditions.
Below are sample application where kinematic mounts serve to improve performance, increase equipment uptime, reduce O&M costs, and generally make the world a better, happier, place.
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