Tutorial Description

This tutorial continues in the longstanding tradition of Axes of Rotation tutorials previously offered at ASPE by Dr. Eric Marsh and the late James Bryan. A copy of Eric Marsh’s seminal book, Precision Spindle Metrology, will be provided to pre-registered attendees.

We will cover all of the major concepts in Dr. Marsh’s book including: 1) explanations and examples of the error motion, stiffness, and thermal growth of precision spindles; 2) terminology for defining the behavior of spindles used in instruments, measuring machines, machine tools, and rotating equipment of all kinds; 3) instrumentation available for measuring the various parameters of spindle performance. A special demonstration of a commercially available Lion Precision spindle error analyzer will help reinforce the concepts. Many of the precision spindle metrology principles are illustrated through case studies taken from the Professional Instruments vault. In addition, some emerging topics of spindle metrology, such as speed stability and simultaneous multiple fixed sensitive directions not covered in the book, will be introduced.

About the Instructor

Dr. Byron Knapp has over twenty years of experience in the design and development of precision manufacturing systems and precision machine design. He received his BS, MS and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University under Professor Eric R. Marsh. Byron has been a Senior Engineer at Professional Instruments Company for 16 years where his focus has been on air bearing spindle characterization using finite element and modal analysis, nanometer-level spindle metrology, and occasional forays into oil hydrostatic spindle testing. Byron is an active member of the international precision engineering communities of ASPE and euspen.