Inventors:
Charles L. Jerzycke - Northville MI
Richard Ogletree - Southfield MI
Frederick A. Sommerhalter - Oyster Bay NY
Assignee:
Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI
International Classification:
B23Q 102
Abstract:
A linear motor assembly having enhanced mechanical stiffness, comprising: (a) at least one pair of rigidly interconnected tandem rails defining a first axis of movement and spaced apart normal to such first axis; (b) at least one pair of frames movable along said pair of rails, each frame presenting at least one pair of opposed parallel bearing surfaces; (c) at least one linear motor effective to operate between each rail and frame; (d) bearings supported between each rail and each bearing surface of each frame, said bearings being preloaded with an interference load while permitting bearing movement; and (e) support structure between said frames defining axes of movement actuated by other linear motors.