When manufacturing precision parts, the XY precision worktable is like a "super craftsman", responsible for grinding the parts to be exactly the same. But sometimes, even though the operation is fine, the produced parts are not up to standard. This might be because the granite base of the workbench is "throwing a tantrum"! Today, let's talk about how important the consistency of granite base materials is for precision processing.
The material is "uneven", and the problem has erupted
Imagine a granite base, some parts are hard and some parts are soft; What will happen if some places expand more when heated and some places expand less?
Vibration imbalance: If the density at different positions of the granite machine base is not the same, when the worktable moves rapidly, it will be like a person walking, one high and one low, causing shaking. This kind of shaking is quite serious in precision processing. For instance, when polishing optical lenses, it may cause the surface of the lenses to become rough. Lenses that could originally achieve a mirror-like effect will have their scrap rate soar by 30% directly!
Temperature "causes trouble" : In the semiconductor photolithography process, precise control of position is required. However, if the thermal expansion coefficients of different areas of the granite base vary greatly, once the temperature changes, the base will "deform and distort", resulting in increasingly larger positioning errors and possibly the entire wafer being scrapped.
Uneven wear: A base with inconsistent hardness is like a pair of shoes with different degrees of wear. After long-term use, the parts with lower hardness on the workbench will be worn out more quickly. The originally straight moving track will become crooked, and the straightness will drop significantly. The maintenance cost will also increase sharply.
Only when the materials are consistent can the processing be as stable as Mount Tai.
When the material properties of the granite base are uniform and consistent, the benefits are immediate:
Stable, accurate and powerful dynamic performance: The base made of consistent materials can evenly absorb vibration when the worktable starts, stops or turns rapidly. In this way, the repeat positioning accuracy can reach an astonishing ±0.3μm, which is equivalent to the precision of dividing a human hair into 300 more parts!
Precise temperature response: A unified coefficient of thermal expansion is like installing an "intelligent temperature control system" on the base. Engineers can accurately predict the deformation of the base when the temperature changes. Through algorithm compensation, the thermal deformation error is controlled within ±0.5μm.
Extra-long "service life" : Uniform hardness and density ensure that all parts of the base are "evenly stressed", avoiding excessive local wear. Ordinary machine bases may need to be replaced every five years, while high-quality ones made of consistent materials can last for eight to ten years, saving a significant amount of equipment replacement costs.
How can one pick a "reliable" granite aircraft base?
Identify the "origin" : Choose granite mined from the same mineral layer and the same area, just like picking fruits from the same tree, this can ensure that the mineral composition is similar.
Strict "physical examination" : Reliable granite machine bases must go through 12 "checkpoints" such as spectral analysis and density testing, and all substandard materials are eliminated.
Check the "ID card" : Ask the supplier to provide quality certification and test reports. Only a base with authoritative certification endorsement can be used with greater peace of mind.
In the world of precision machining, details determine success or failure. The material consistency of the granite base is a key link to ensure accuracy and reduce costs. Next time when choosing equipment, don't overlook this "little detail" again!
Post time: Jun-17-2025