ASD-H20A / UASD-H20A

Ultra-Precision Aerostatic Tool Spindle with automated HSK-E20 tool interface and axially oriented connectors

Function

The highest speeds, precision & stability, and fullest automation combine our new tool spindle (U)ASD-H20A. It was developed specifically to meet the long outstanding requirements for the production of integrated semiconductor devices and optoelectronic components. Speeds up to 150,000 rpm, an automatic springless HSK-E20 interface, tool clamping monitoring, and optimized thermal/dynamic behavior allow fully automated machining of small and integral components.

Results

But high speeds and fully automated integration into production lines are only two basic requirements. Using our springless, patented HSK clamping system SLH-x in size HSK-20, a consistent optimization of the shaft dynamics, and the highly efficient and symmetrical thin-film liquid cooling, our ASD-H20A also offers unrivaled dynamic and thermal stability to previous solutions. Combined with the manufacturing expertise we use for our ultra-precision spindle models and the patented bearing technology, our customers can expect highly dynamic machining with simultaneous dynamic and thermal stability.

Dynamic tool run-out

The intensive optimization of the shaft dynamics and the patented bearing technology’s stiffness result in operation under all stiffness- and bending-critical natural frequencies for all speeds. This is reflected in the dynamic basic tool run and the oscillating speeds.
These properties even allow tool diameters smaller than 50 micron, with significantly reduced tool wear and without the tool breaking due to vibrations of a resonance case (rotational frequency = critical).

Dynamischer Rundlauf

Axial shaft growth

The warm through time is < 3 minutes.
The axial shaft growth from the cold condition and standstill to 120,000 rpm and warmed through: < 1 micron.

Axiales Wellenwachstum

High pressure aerostatics

Like its big sister, our ASD-H20A is also optionally available with high-pressure aerostatic (UASD-H20). This almost triples the load capacity and robustness, especially at low speeds and with larger tools.

  • (U)ASD120H20A (120,000 rpm), (U)ASD150H20A (150,000 pm)
  • Housing diameter: 80 mm
  • Overall length: 334 mm
  • Weight: 8.1 kg
  • Interface: HSK-E20 (SLH20), springless
  • Ramp times (acceleration/deceleration): up to 150,000 rpm/s
  • High-pressure aerostatic technology (UASD-H20A) for 300% more load capacity and stability: optional
Elektronikbauteile

Fields of Applications  – Electronics and Optoelectronics Industries in Transition

Shortages of electronic or optical components were the first signs of change. Whereas in the past, the consumer mainly determined the production volume to be planned, the drastic increase in automation in private as well as the industrial environment with IoT/i4.0 occupies such a prominent and ever-increasing position that the consumer nowadays plays a comparatively minor role.

What can be expected?

Therefore, by 2026, an annual and required doubling of the production volume of electronic, optoelectronic components and systems is predicted. Moreover, with the steady downsizing of components and the shift to highly integrative systems, the orientation of manufacturing strategies is changing drastically. Existing production lines have reached their capacity and accuracy limits and are about to be replaced. This results in necessary optimizations concerning the following aspects:

  • Productivity with small tools (spindle speed)
  • Full automation (HSK20 interface, clamping condition/ temperature monitoring)
  • Part accuracy and surface (dynamic/thermal stability)
  • Process stability over high batch size (thermal stability)
HSK20_Ansicht vorne und hinten

*) if used with tool holders series UTS-20

**) from cold/ standstill to 120,000 rpm/ heated through

*) all values taken at 20 bar bearing air supply pressure

**) if used with UTS-20 tool holder series

*) if used with UTS-20 tool holder series

**) all values taken at 6 bar bearing air supply pressure

***) all values taken at 20 bar bearing air supply pressure

****) only in field weakened operation

High-pressure aerostatic technology

Levicron’s high-pressure aerostatic technology increases the bearing’s load carrying capacity by approximately three times compared to operation at standard 6 bar overpressure, and its stiffness by approximately two times. Thanks to the patented bearing technology and capillary nozzles with a minimum diameter of 15 µm and L/D ratios of up to 100:1, the air consumption at a required bearing pressure of 20-30 bar only increases by approx. 80%.

As an option for our ASD-H20A, we offer this technology to allow machining with larger tools even at lower speeds with our UASD-H20A.

Titel
  • Operation below resonances at any speed from zero to top speed

Spindle Operation below Spindle Resonances from Standstill to Top Speed
Our patented bearing technology allows bearing stiffnesses no other aerostatic technology can meet with. The increase in stiffness with speed due to centricugal load and temperature was picked up for the optimization of the rotor dynamics of our spindle products and guarantees a resonance-free operation of all of our spindle products from standstill to top speed. Here the analytically optimized shaft-bearing design makes sure that the spindle speed (= rotation frequency) always stays far below any shaft bending or rigid mode spindle critical frequencies. If not the operation of a spindle at this speed would result in tremendously high vibrations and tool run-out.
The graph to the right was taken with a high-resolution capacitive gauge measuring against the spinning tool. The gauge not only measures the run-out, but also the vibration of the tool. An FFT analysis can be done for any spindle speed resulting in a resonance spectrum with spindle speed and the residual shaft imbalance as exciting force. This spectrum now includes the exciting frequency (=spinning frequency) as well as any system natural frequency. Doing this at every spindle speed leads to a 3D waterfall-chart with spindle speed as additional dimension. As the amplitude is of no interest at this point it is easire to look top-down where the light aereas now represent peaks (=resonances).
As can be seen on a measurement with our ASD080H25 with a max. speed of 80.000 rpm the exciting frequency (= spinning frequency) never get close to any resonance frequency. For the user this means that at what speed ever he uses our ASD080H25 or any other model spindle speed never is close to a system natural frequency where it is usual for any other spindle on the market. This makes sure that, at what ever speed it is used, vibrations and tool run-out is low.

ASD-H25_Cx_ResonanceMap
  • Dynamic tool run-out and vibrations with speed

Dynamic Tool Run-Out and Vibrations with Spindle Speed
The bearing-shaft design of our spindles are strictly optimized for best shaft dynamics. Means, a light and stiff shaft design combined with high bearing stiffness for a resonance-free operation from standstill to top speed.

In combination with our highly specialized production technology spindle taper a run-out of less than 50 nm can be guaranteed.

As a result the user not only gets a robust high-speed spindle with a load capacity better than with any other aerostatic high-speed spindle, he also gets a dynamically neutral spindle operation over the entire speed range with a dynamic tool run-out of better 0.8 micron.

ASD-H25_DRunOut
  • Shaft error in motion (Error-Motion)

Definition: The value of the so called Error-Motion includes any synchronous and asynchronous spindle error from the theoretical perfect axis of rotation, but without the fundamental (fundamental = run-out).

To perform such a Spindle Error Analysis (SEA) a precisely ground ball is attached to the shaft and one or more gauges measure the radial/axial motion of it. As the roundness of such a SEA-ball (artefact) is much worse than the spindle error itself it becomes clear that an error-separation of spindle and artefact has to take place. This can either be done with a reversal FFT Method where the artefact and the probe has to be rotated by 180° for a second measurement or a multi-probe complex FFT analysis.

Levicron has developed mathematical methods and test benches for the multi-probe measurement of Spindle Motion Errors. As rotation speeds for Levicron products exceed the technical capability of any commercially available solution Levicron developed bespoke hard- and software to verify their products Error-Motion specifications. Our tool spindle models ASD-H25, ASD-H25A and ASD-Cx are specified and verified with a Spindle Motion Error of less than 30 nm.

ASD-H25_Cx_ErrorMotion
  • Tool clamp accuracy and repeatability

With our highly specialized production a spindle taper run-out of better 50 nm is guaranteed. With the same manufacturing technology our HSK tool holders UTS-x are machined for which we guarantee a tool run-out of less than 0.8 micron and a balancing quality of G0.3 mm/s at 60.000 rpm.

The upper right picture shows a tool run-out measurement of our ASD-H25 at a customer site and at 185 mm in front of the spindle nose. A value of below 0.5 micron confirms the quality and combination of our HSK tool interface and spindle taper.

As a standard test the tool change repeatability of every spindle is tested by our 4 x 90° reversal balancing test at top speed (lower picture). For this the residual imbalance of one of our UTS-x HSK tool holders is measured at 0°. Then the residual imbalance is measured after the holder was rotated by 90° against the shaft. This done three times. The distance from the midpoint of the resulting square to one of its corner represents the tool clamp repeatability where the imbalance is defined as an eccentricity of the tool holder mass. With this method we can guarantee a tool clamp repeatability of less than 0.2 micron.

ASD-H25_ToolClampAccuracy
  • Axial shaft growth and spindle soak time

As it can be seen from the graph to the right the thin-film liquid cooling and the cartridge deisgn of our tool spindles ASD080H25, ASD080H25A and ASD080Cx result in a spindle soak time from cold and standstill to top speed and warmed through of less than 3 minutes. For the user this means that after 3 minutes the spindle doesn’t change its properties, doesn’t matter for how long I use it at top speed. Not only that this period is 5-20 times faster than with any other spindle solution, the user also can use the spindle at 80.000 rpm for an unlimited period of time.

The optimized design also compensates for axial growth Where the centrifugal load on the shaft causes a reduction on length, the increase in temperature causes an increase. That’s why a total axial shaft growth of less than 5 micron from cold and standstill to 80.000 rpm and warmed through could be achieved. With our ASD060H25 and ASD060Cx and 60.000 rpm even a value of under 3 micron can be specified.

ASD-H25_Cx_AxialGrowth