A manipulator system having a positioner having a primary rail, a first coupling linkage, and a second coupling linkage. The first coupling linkage couples the primary rail to a base and positions the primary rail along a first plane. The system has another positioner having a secondary rail, a third coupling linkage, and a fourth coupling linkage. The third coupling linkage couples the secondary rail to the base and positions the secondary rail along a second plane which is parallel to the first plane. A common link couples to the primary and secondary rails via linkages. Each of the second and fourth coupling linkages includes a joint for linear motion along the respective rail, and a revolute joint for relative pivoting between the respective rail and the common link. A position and orientation of the common link are adjustable by the joints and revolute joints.

A parallel-type micro robot capable of precise control while minimizing size thereof and a surgical robot system having the same are disclosed. The parallel-type micro robot includes a base plate, a work plate, a main fixing shaft module, a horizontal movement module and at least one angle-controlling module. The base plate includes a base body portion and at least one base connecting portion connected to the base body portion. The work plate includes a work body portion corresponding to the base body portion and at least one work connecting portion connecting to the work body portion to correspond to the base connecting portion. The main fixing shaft module is disposed between the base body portion and the work body portion, and coupled to the work body portion such that the work body portion is rotatable. The horizontal movement module is disposed between the main fixing shaft module and the base body portion, and moves the main fixing shaft module along first and second directions intersecting each other. The angle-controlling module is coupled to the base connecting portion such that the base connecting portion is rotatable, is coupled to the work connecting portion such that the work connecting portion is rotatable, and allows translational motion between the base connecting portion and the work connecting portion. Thus, a size of a robot may be minimized while improving the structural stability and precise control.

An apparatus comprises a first elongate member configured to detachably and fixedly couple with a work machine in a tow-behind configuration, a two-axis joint member coupled with the first elongate member at a first joint permitting rotation of the two-axis joint member relative to the first elongate member about a first axis of rotation, a rigid frame portion including a second elongate member coupled with the two-axis joint member at a second joint permitting rotation of the second elongate member relative to the two-axis joint member about a second axis of rotation perpendicular to the first axis of rotation and a third elongate member extending perpendicular to the second elongate member, a surface conditioning tool extending parallel to the third elongate member and coupled with the rigid frame portion at a third joint and at a fourth joint permitting rotation of the surface conditioning tool relative to the rigid frame portion about a third axis of rotation parallel to the second axis of rotation, and a variable-length tool coupling member coupled with the rigid frame portion at a fifth joint and coupled with the surface conditioning tool at a sixth joint.

A machine tool includes with a tool head frame, a tool head, and an axis unit fixed to the tool head frame which fixes the tool head in a predefinable position. A movement device for moving the tool head frame includes a machine frame and a multipod drive which has at least three drive elements. The movement device is arranged in the flux of force between the machine frame and the machine tool frame, and has at least two supporting elements which can be brought into a locked state. The multipod drive is mechanically overdetermined by the supporting elements and the drive elements.

A multi-motion-platform parallel robot, comprising an original parallel mechanism; and a plurality of N.sub.1 derivative parallel mechanisms, wherein: each of the parallel mechanisms possesses N.sub.2 degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) and shares an identical set of DOF properties; N.sub.1 is an integer greater than 1; N.sub.2 is one of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6; the original parallel mechanism includes an original base platform, an original movable platform and a plurality of N.sub.2 original chains; the plurality of original chains connect the original base platform and the original movable platform; each of the original chains includes a plurality of generalized kinematic pairs interconnected in series; the derivative parallel mechanism includes a derivative base platform, a derivative movable platform and a plurality of (N.sub.2N.sub.1) derivative chains; and the plurality of derivative chains connect the derivative base platform and the derivative movable platform.

A fabrication apparatus and system for facilitating three dimensional motion of an object within the system. The apparatus and system utilizing a delta style manipulation system having a plurality of guide rails and corresponding gliders. The guide rails having an extended axial body having rigid side wall with a hollow interior cavity. The guide rail further including a key or slot extending through the side wall, the key or slot being parallel to a main central axis of each guide rail. A corresponding glider is provided for each guide rail, each glider having an exterior portion and an interior portion, wherein the exterior portion substantially encompasses the guide rail about an outer surface, and the interior portion being coupled to a driving mechanism which facilitates axial motion of the glider about the guide rail.

The machining station can include a table; at least three robots each having a multi-axis mover secured to the table, and a gripper opposite the table, the robots being interspaced from one another on the table; and a controller. The controller controls the robots to hold a workpiece in a coordinated manner. The computer numerical command (CNC) machine-tool system machines the workpiece while the workpiece is held by the robots. The workpiece can be moved into and out from the machining station with a trolley which slidingly engages a trolley path formed within the table.

Methods and systems for supporting and/or positioning mechanical components or tools, the methods and system employing work stands that have a moveable base, a vertical support member disposed on the moveable base, a support platform attached to an upper end of the vertical support member via a support coupling that permits independent rotational movement of the support platform, a plurality of extendable arms that are each pivotally coupled at a lower end to the vertical support member and pivotally coupled at an upper end to the support platform, and each extendable arm can be independently and controllably extended and retracted. The work stands further include a controller for controllably extending and retracting the extendable arms to position the support platform in a desired orientation, and a user input coupled to the controller and configured so that a user employing the controller can position the support platform in the desired orientation.

A non-Cartesian coordinate positioning machine that includes an extendable leg assembly for positioning a component such as a measurement probe within a working volume of the machine. The extendable leg assembly includes a first member and a second member which move relative to one another when the extendable leg assembly changes length. The first member including an axial arrangement of magnets forming part of a linear motor for extending and retracting the extendable leg assembly, and at least one resilient member for absorbing at least some of any axial thermal expansion or contraction of the magnets in use.

The present application provides a multi-motion-platform parallel robot and a method of constructing the same. The parallel robot comprises a symmetrical basic parallel mechanism and one or more symmetrical branch parallel mechanism. The basic parallel mechanism comprises a symmetrical basic foundation platform, a symmetrical basic motion platform, and symmetrical main branched-chains. The branch parallel mechanism comprises a symmetrical branch foundation platform, a symmetrical branch motion platform, and symmetrical branch branched-chains. The basic parallel mechanism and the branch parallel mechanism are connected by means of a multiple-output motion pair having symmetrical output ends, and share one set of driving pairs and drive and control devices. The multi-motion-platform parallel robot and it's method of construction can be used for various industrial robots, three-dimensional profile modeling and scaling robots and walking robots, and have the advantages of having a simple structure, being easy to standardize, having a high production efficiency, and the like.