Parallel kinematic machines in research and practice

The 4th Chemnitz Parallel Kinematics Seminar is the continuation of the very successful 3rd Parallel Kinematics Seminar of 2002, where more than 250 participants from 26 countries came to Chemnitz. The PKS 2004 is being supported by CIRP (International Institution for Production Engineering Research) and CECIMO (European Committee for Cooperation of the Machine Tool Industries). After many years of fundamental research, application-ready parallel kinematic machines are now on the market. Despite the still frequently held reservations by potential users, significant experience and knowledge pertaining to practical application is available in many fields. The conference demonstrates to the researchers, developers, as well as the users, the current state of such innovative technology. The conference program has been designed to provide both an overview of the field‘s fundamental innovation as well as an in-depth look into specialized facets of parallel kinematics.