Guide rail for a gantry system

Abstract

A guide rail for a gantry system includes a support structure having an elongated support surface and a plate having a precision surface relative to the elongated support surface. A filler material bonds the plate to the elongated support surface. The filler material can have a varying thickness along the elongated support surface to maintain a desired orientation of the plate. A method of constructing the same is also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A guide rail for gantry system, the guide rail comprising: 
 a support structure having an elongated support surface;    a plate having a precision surface relative to the elongated support surface; and    a filler material bonding the plate to the elongated support surface, the filler material having varying thickness along the elongated surface to maintain a desired orientation of the plate.    
     
     
         2 . The guide rail of  claim 1  wherein the filler material comprises a flowable material that later forms a solid body.  
     
     
         3 . The guide rail of  claim 2  and further comprising a plurality of spacers to support the plate from the elongated support surface prior to application of the flowable material.  
     
     
         4 . The guide rail of  claim 3  wherein each of the spacers are adjustable in length.  
     
     
         5 . The guide rail of  claim 4  wherein each of the spacers comprise a threaded bolt.  
     
     
         6 . The guide rail of  claim 5  wherein each threaded bolt engages a threaded aperture in the support structure.  
     
     
         7 . The guide rail of  claim 2  wherein the flowable material comprises an epoxy.  
     
     
         8 . A gantry system comprising: 
 a pair of spaced apart guide rails, each guide rails comprising: 
 a support structure having an elongated support surface;  
 a plate having a precision surface relative to the elongated support surface; and  
 a filler bonding the plate to the elongated support surface, the filler material having varying thickness along the elongated surface to maintain a desired orientation of the plate; and  
   a bridge movable on the guide rails.    
     
     
         9 . The gantry system of  claim 8  wherein the filler material comprises a flowable material that later forms a solid body.  
     
     
         10 . The gantry system of  claim 9  wherein each guide rail includes a plurality of spacers to support the plate from the elongated support surface prior to application of the flowable material.  
     
     
         11 . The gantry system of  claim 10  wherein each of the spacers are adjustable in length.  
     
     
         12 . The gantry system of  claim 11  wherein each of the spacers comprise a threaded bolt.  
     
     
         13 . The gantry system of  claim 12  wherein each threaded bolt engages a threaded aperture in the support structure.  
     
     
         14 . The gantry system of  claim 9  wherein the flowable material comprises an epoxy.  
     
     
         15 . A method for constructing a guide rail, the method comprising: 
 orienting a guide surface of a plate to face downwardly;    holding a support structure above and spaced apart from an upwardly facing surface of the plate; and    disposing a bonding material between the upwardly facing surface and the support structure to fill a gap therebetween, wherein the bonding material solidifies.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein disposing includes flowing the bonding material into the gap.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein holding includes locating a plurality of spacers between the support structure and the plate.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein locating includes adjusting a length of each of the spacers.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein each of the spacers comprises a threaded bolt.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein each of the bolts extends through a corresponding threaded aperture in the support structure.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16  and further comprising forming a dam to define a boundary of the flowable material.