Designing a successful precision machine or instrument depends on understanding accuracy, repeatability, and resolution – and especially the limiting relationship between accuracy and repeatability.

The advantage of a kinematic mount is that it locates one rigid body relative to another with very high repeatability, without over-constraining the body or introducing instability. It accomplishes this by using the precise number (and arrangement) of contact points needed to allow the desired degrees of freedom – no more and no less. That is the principle of kinematic constraint, which this article will show how to apply in your designs.