The Giant Split Vee Block

The giant split Vee Block is a very large, very rugged, kinematic component. [See the technical papers on the use of split kinematic couplings, on this website.] These large, rugged components, are offered in both the surface mount and the cylindrical post mount configurations. The surface mount design is our Part number SVB-2000-SM. The major cylindrical diameter of this part is 2.00 inches (50.8 mm). The overall thickness of the body of this part is 1.250 inch (31.75mm). There are two, precision ground, flat surfaces that are precisely 45 degrees to the flat base. This amount to a 90 degree included angle. There is an 0.1875 inch (4.7625mm) diameter hole, that is drilled through the body, of the part, perpendicular to the flange, that can be pinned to accurately establish the angular location of the flat prismatic faces.

The flat base of this part is precision ground and lapped flat, for the best possible location. See Figure #1. The cylindrical post mounted version of this part is our part number SVB-2000-CPM. There are two, precision ground, flat surfaces that are precisely 45 degrees to the flat flange surface. This amounts to a 90 degree included angle.

The major cylindrical diameter of this part is 2.00 inches (50.8 mm). The overall thickness of the body of this part is 1.250 inch (31.75mm). The cylindrical mounting post of this part is precision ground to three quarters 0.750 inch (19.05 mm) diameter, plus nothing minus 0.0005 inch (0.0127 mm). This cylindrical post is 0.500 inch (12.7 mm) long.

There is a central through, tie down, hole that is threaded M10×1.5. This central hole is counter bored at the top to accept a standard 5/16 inch (0.3125 inch) [7.93 mm] hex cap screw. The flange between the 0.750 inch (19.05mm) diameter post and the two inch, (50.8mm) outside diameter is precision ground flat and square to the post within 0.0002 inch (0.005 mm). There is an 0.1875” inch (4.7625mm) diameter hole that is drilled through the body of the part perpendicular to flange that can be pinned to accurately establish the angular location of the flat prismatic faces. See Figure #2.

Both of these devices are constructed from Martensetic stainless steel that is hardened to 58 HRC. This ultra fine grained material has an exceptionally high tensile strength of 285,000 PSI. The flat working surfaces of this high load carrying split Vee Block are precision ground. A super accurate version of this component, with precision flat lapped working surfaces is available on special order. Request the super accurate versions of Part Number SVB-2000-SM or SVB-2000-CPM. See our page, "Use of the Split Kinematic Vee Block" for more information. See our page, All Vee Blocks, for pricing information.

Cheating

I love to cheat the system a little, when I can get away with it! When you can break the laws of physics, or at least give them a good bend and walk way scott-free, it is a warm sunny day. When coupling two bodies together, with a high degree of accuracy, three points of contact, or the “tripod rule” is a marvel, but in a rectilinear world, three equilateral points of contact, don’t match the rectangular parts. The problem gets even worse when the aspect ratio of the mounting platform, doesn’t lend itself to an equilateral three point, coupling design.

By using a pseudo Maxwell kinematic system, that basically consists of two standard Vee Blocks and one split vee block with four mating spheres, you get a perfectly functional kinematic coupling, that has the much more stable, four legs of support. We produce a broad line of standard off the shelf Vee Blocks and Vee Block like products. The technical aspects of using the split kinematic technique have been published by Dr. Alex Slocum of M.I.T. as well as by our company (See the list of technical papers on our website www.precisionballs.com).