Micromechanics Keep Everything Running on Time

Known for producing miniature ball bearings RMB changes its name to MPS (Micro Precision Systems AG) in January 2003.Beginning in the 1940s, this Swissbased company laid the foundation for future growth and recognition as a leading manufacturer with the introduction of its miniature 4-point ball bearings. And with the advent of space programs, RMB further enhanced its reputation as a supplier of components for the Apollo Moon missions. Today, MPS is part of the Faulhaber Group and continues to expand upon its expertise as evident in its three product lines: 4-point contact bearings and miniature balls, linear bearings and highprecision, recirculating ball screws, and customized systems based on brushless miniature DC motors, including control modules. The company's 4-point bearings feature low backlash, absorb both radial and axial forces, and require no maintenance. While these bearings are used for self-winding mechanisms in clocks and watches, new technology is opening the doors to other applications like medical implants. Using today's modern actuator, with the ability to absorb axial and radial forces, only two identical bearingson motors and gear mechanisms are needed. Couple this with balls now being made of ceramic zirconium oxide and bearings from titanium, the door swings open to many medical applications. Biocompatible, the bearings require no lubricants, and are available with an I.D. of 1.0mm and 1.5mm and an O.D. of 4.0mm and 5.5mm, with an overall height of only 1.2mm and 2.0 mm. Microlinea bearings, MPS' second product line, permit linear movement with low friction. Keeping applications straight within narrow tolerances is achieved through use of linear bearings, ball cages and recirculating ball screws. Shaft diameters of the linear bearings range from 2.0 to 6 mm, with an O.D. of 4.0mm to 12.0mm and an overall length of 5.0mm to 18.0mm. Their load-bearing capacity is 10 to 245 N. With ultra compact dimensions, linear bearing cages include bearings with an I.D. of 3.0mm to 12.0mm. A third linear assembly, the linear recirculating ball screw, may be used as a miniature actuator. With a ball nut diameter between 10.0mm and 28.0mm and a shaft diameter of 4.25mm to 13.6mm, it allows precise traverse distances between 70.0mm and 260.0mm. Customized systems are the third MPS offering. Manufactured to customer specifications, they are used mainly for providers of prosthetics, implants and medical devices, miniature pumps, positioning actuators and servoactuators for optical systems, analysis instruments, robotics, precision tools and scanners. The company also has miniature peristaltic pumps able to be implanted in body and dosing micro-pumps for implantation in eye sockets. In the wide-ranging MPS portfolio are mechanical systems that include hexapod robots used for orthopedic surgery on the spinal column and compensating probes for optical glass-cutting machines. Key to the company's success is striving for maximum precision in each phase of production. Individual components with a small crosssection are sorted in pairs into 2 µm classes to ensure optimum pressfit. Bearing play is also monitored in every aspect and limited to a maximum tolerance of only 8 µm. MPS utilizes its company- developed measuring instrument -- available for use by customers and suppliers – in order to guarantee quality. With its years of experience in the development and production of precision micro-parts using stateof- the-art materials, MPS uses its proprietary measuring systems and special purpose manufacturing equipment and processes to maintain its technological achievements and generate unquestionable product quality. MicroMo Electronics Inc. Clearwater, FL micromo.com