Marking apparatus with cable drive

摘要

Appts. for marking an object surface in response to control inputs has a flat support platen (40) and two crossbar assemblies (102) spaced from the platen and supported by bearings to be driven in respective coordinate senses by a motor. The crossbars engage in respective channels in a base (20) carrying a marker. Pref. there is an air bearing (80) between the base and platen and is pref. formed as a porous carbon bearing. The base is pref. made of polyetherimide, and there is a rigid spherical force coupler between the base and air bearing. The crossbars are pref. driven by respective motors via flexible cables. The marker e.g. comprises a head with pneumatically driven pins.