Astronomy is important because physics does not invent things and biology does not cure anything. However, scientists, engineers and doctors often develop new things on the basis of basic research that takes place in space or in the field of astronomy. Today, astrophysicists use huge telescopes, some of which are connected across continents, and light-sensitive sensors to conduct research in the most remote areas of the earth. Find out how nimble ball screws detect the most powerful explosions in the universe and help solve the mysteries of modern astrophysics.
On the trail of the mysteries of the universe - ball screws make it possible
From an astronomical point of view, anyone looking up into the sky is looking into the past, not the future. The universe is filled with high-energy particle streams. This cosmic radiation is emitted by stellar explosions, active galaxies and gamma bursts, among other things. The nature of the sources of this radiation, the "cosmic particle accelerators", is hardly known. There are a total of four large Cherenkov telescopes of the latest generation worldwide: Australia, Namibia, La Palma and the USA. The different positioning of the telescopes in the northern and southern hemispheres allows researchers to observe both halves of the sky in the best possible way. With these giant mirrors, the researchers can look over five billion light years into the universe.
On La Palma, the two impressive Cherenkov telescopes called "MAGIC" transform the Earth's atmosphere into a gigantic particle detector. Within a few seconds, almost a thousand mirrors focus on the most distant activities in the firmament. Each individual mirror plate is aligned with a pre-adjusted laser point. The mosaic-like mirror elements are each driven on two sides by an incredibly fast and reliable ball screw drive from Eichenberger Gewinde AG.
active galactic nuclei, black holes and pulsars are now regularly observed.
It's magic
The experts at Eichenberger inspire the realization of ideas for new products or for completely new types of drives and screw drive solutions. They challenge the limits of what is technically feasible and make the impossible possible. The masterminds behind the Cherenkov telescope project recognized the potential of Eichenberger's drive and its cold-rolled ball screws and placed their trust in the Swiss company. It is Eichenberger's passion for perfect motion and the requirement to create a basis for a long life cycle and a strong competitive position for the partners that completely convinced the MAGIC team.
It gets really dark on La Palma. Stargazing and a visit to the observatory are one of the highlights for tourists. The whole island is a UNESCO protected area, which protects the quality and natural darkness of the sky. As part of the Roque-de-los-Muchachos Observatory there are a whole series of telescopes in its vicinity. The two largest air Cherenkov telescopes in the world, MAGIC I and II, owe their performance to the robust, rolled ball screw drives type Carry, 12×2. They form the heart of each of the small drive units on the side of the mirrors.
(engl. Major Atmospheric Gamma-Ray Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes)
Magical performance thanks to cold-rolled ball screws
The aim of the telescopes is to explore the previously unobservable energy range of electromagnetic radiation between 30 and 300 GeV (unit of measurement for energy: 1 GeV corresponds to approximately 1.6 1010 Joule). Objects of observation include active galactic nuclei, supernova remnants, neutron stars and black holes. In addition, the measurements can contribute to a better understanding of the mysterious gamma-ray bursts and the enigmatic dark matter. A technical masterpiece is required to enable the telescopes to achieve the enormously short reaction time and exceptional precision. Thanks to innovative details and special manufacturing processes, Eichenberger's screw drives create the conditions for this perfect movement with maximum dynamics. The Carry power propellers are manufactured and hardened cost-effectively in large series using the thread rolling process.
Core competence thread rolling and hardening
At the Thread rolls unlike grinding, milling or turning, the longitudinal fibers of the material are not cut but deflected. The result is a compressed, smoothly rolled, extremely resilient surface, which is essential for a long service life of the spindle. The roughness values of around Rz 1.0 on the thread flanks and in the base radius as well as significantly reduced notch sensitivity also provide a major advantage. The rolling friction coefficient for steel balls is 0.003 to 0.001 compared to sliding friction steel on steel (lubricated) 0.1 to 0.05. The excellent sliding properties of the cold-rolled ball screw ensure minimal abrasion and offer little surface area for contamination. This enables the balls to roll quietly.
This cold forming leads to an extraordinary increase in strength
Thanks to years of experience in the Induction hardening Eichenberger has developed a great deal of expertise in-house. While a hardening store is dedicated exclusively to hardening steel, the thread specialist strives to achieve the best possible combination of hardness and precision. This is crucial for the high pitch accuracy of the ball screw with its impressive range of diameters. It is particularly important to master this challenge with small dimensions, because the smaller the diameter, the more expertise and intuition are required for hardening
The ideal partner from one-off production to series production
The wheel of mechanics cannot be reinvented. And yet it is Eichenberger's ambition to constantly push the boundaries of the cold-rolled ball screw. Competence goes beyond knowledge, or to put it another way, competence is problem-solving knowledge. Every newly developed screw drive is included in the thread roller range. Over the decades, this has resulted in a huge selection of ball and lead screw drives.
The developers always try to start with a standard nut and spindle and adapt these components to the application-specific requirements. This results in a decisive price advantage. The challenge for designers in Switzerland, a high-price country, is to develop very high technical value in a competitive product that meets market requirements. Technological knowledge, research and development are just as necessary as the willingness to change and the mastery of efficient manufacturing processes.
