Away with the sway

A milling device that compensates for the rocking and swaying generated by machine vibrations will make micro-component manufacture faster and more precise, according to its developers.

Called MiniMill, the system uses multiple sliding shock absorbers to control the jolting of equipment and prevent oscillation of the workpiece. It was designed and developed at

.

'Traditional machines can work with precision, but the machining speed is very low,' said Rainer Klar, the researcher in charge of development. 'You could say to make a machine faster, just use a faster motor. But this means you have to limit the drives because their force will impact the machine base's vibrations.'

The MiniMill aims to put a stop to unwanted movements and allow small metal parts to be produced more quickly. On each of the device's three axes is a small slide, which absorbs the momentum of the jolt and moves backwards.

Klar explained that it works a little like the recoil of a cannon. To ensure that the cannon doesn't sink into the ground when fired, it is mounted on a carriage that works like a guide rail. The recoil causes the slide to roll backwards on the rail, thus absorbing the shock.