Systems and methods employing a rotary track for machining and manufacturing

A rotatable Stewart platform, comprising

• a plurality of push rods having proximal and distal ends,
• a plurality of universal joints, each end of said push rods being coupled to a corresponding universal joint,
• a utility plate having a working surface and a plurality of attachment points, each attachment point being coupled to the distal universal joints of a pair of push rods such that the pair of push rods gimbal about the same distal point,
• a track,
• a plurality of trucks, each truck being coupled to the proximal universal joint of one of said push rods and moveably coupled to said track, said trucks being suitable for moving along said track whereby the motion of said trucks along said track defines a track plane, and
• an actuator for moving said trucks along said track,
• whereby the movement of said trucks along said track is effective to control the three-dimensional location and orientation of the working surface of said utility plate.

A rotatable Stewart platform assembly, comprising

• a utility plate having three attachment points and suitable for carrying an end-effector,
• three bi-strut universal joints, each being coupled to a corresponding utility plate attachment point,
• six push rods arranged in three pairs, each push rod having proximal and distal ends, the distal ends of each pair of said push rods being coupled to a corresponding bi-strut universal joint,
• six strut-end universal joints, each being coupled to the proximal end of a corresponding push rod,
• a support structure having a central hub,
• a circular track coupled to said support structure such that said circular track and the central hub are coaxial,
• six spokes, each said spoke having a first end rotatably coupled to the hub and a second end movably coupled to said circular track, the second end of each of said spokes being further coupled to a corresponding strut-end universal joint,
• an actuator for independently moving the second end of each of said spokes circumferentially along said circular track,
• whereby the positioning of the second end of each of said spokes about said circular track is effective to control the three-dimensional location and orientation of said utility plate.

A method for making a rotatable Stewart platform, comprising the steps of

• providing a plurality of pairs of push rods, each push rod having proximal and distal ends,
• providing one distal universal joint and one proximal universal joint for each of said push rods,
• coupling each distal universal joint to the distal end of a corresponding one of said push rods and coupling each proximal universal joint to the proximal end of a corresponding one of said push rods,
• providing a utility plate having a working surface and a plurality of attachment points,
• coupling each utility plate attachment point to said distal universal joints of a corresponding said pair of said push rods such that said pair of push rods gimbal about a common distal point,
• providing a track,
• providing one truck for each one of said push rods,
• coupling each said truck to a corresponding said proximal universal joint,
• moveably coupling each said truck to said track whereby said truck is suitable for moving along said track, and
• providing an actuator for moving said trucks along said track whereby the movement of said trucks is effective to control the three-dimensional location and orientation of the working surface of said utility plate.