Reagents have to be transported quickly, precisely and with repeat accuracy in automated ample handling process. The linear and rotary movements required to position the samples are performed by a ball spline.

This is a combination of a ballscrew nut and a grooved shaft nut, both of which run on a ground shaft. Depending on which of the nuts is driven, rotary, linear and helical movements are generated with absolute precision and positioning accuracy with only a single shaft. Depending on the application, cycle times can be significantly reduced by overlapping stroke and rotary movements. Due to its compactness, this drive element is perfect for assemblies and machine elements where space is limited. Ball splines – also called ball screw splines – are used in medical technology in pipetting stations for automated blood analysis as well as SCARA robots, assembly machines, tool changers and automatic placement machines. The use of ball splines also reduces design and installation work because only one drive module has to be aligned and installed.