Industries Information

Accuride has produced optimised 3D models of its ‘off the shelf’ ball bearing slides to make the design process simpler and quicker

Accuride International has launched a new service that will save product designers and engineers significant time when creating 3D CAD drawings that incorporate the company’s most popular products. Creating 3D models of telescopic slides can take a significant amount of time to complete. To make the process much simpler, quicker and to help reduce the possibility of mistakes being made, Accuride has produced optimised 3D models of its ‘off the shelf’ products that can be downloaded via its website.

This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 22 May 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories

More slides available off the shelf
Accuride International has extended its off-the-shelf product range into what is now believed to be the largest of its kind in Europe

Slides are ideal for access and positioning
The versatile design of the 9300 series, along with a choice of features and mounting options, makes these slides ideal for access and positioning in a variety of heavy duty applications

Accuride telescopic slides are built into many everyday products to provide access and movement, for example to open and close drawers or slide out shelves.

The slides are used across a broad range of industries particularly in the automotive, domestic, industrial, furniture, IT and telecoms sectors.

Accuride’s 3D drawings have been optimised for fit, form and function to make them easy for product designers to use and to keep the file size relatively small for downloading.

The dimensional features most important for integrating a telescopic slide into a larger drawing have been retained and unnecessary information stripped out.

Because the 3D images can be downloaded and integrated into larger drawings within minutes, designers can evaluate different telescopic slide products to optimise their designs.

The 3D models can be downloaded in IGES format free from the company’s website.

Metric linear actuators feature guide tubes of chrome plated precision steel, with gun metal follower nuts and plastic end caps

JW Winco has expanded the scope of its portfolio with a range of metric linear actuators with left and right hand threads. The actuators feature guide tubes of chrome plated precision steel, with gun metal follower nuts and plastic end caps. The tubes are also available in stainless steel. Tubes come in a variety of diameters, and travel lengths from 120 to 350mm.

The actuators may be ordered with only one shaft end protruding, or with the shaft ends protruding at both ends.

The PMM slide from Micromech can be mounted in horizontal or vertical direction and the specially designed U-shaped ball cage made of brass eliminates creeping of the cage

The PMM compact slide from Micromech has consistent high running motion accuracy, which results in unsurpassed reliability. Thanks to the innovative design combined with a fine adjustment (pre-loading is by selection on ball diameter), these slides are showing an extremely low friction resistance, smooth running qualities and long operation lifetime.

This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 4 June 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories

Low-profile bearing offers high precision
The FMB turntable bearing is designed to provide high-performance circular motions in as small a package as possible

Designed for rapid and precise movements the slides have stainless steel table bodies, coming in three sizes with stroke lengths of 5 to 70mm.

Ultra-compact and lightweight the bodies are made from stainless steel type 1.4034 and hardness 54-57 Hrc.

The PMM slide can be mounted in horizontal or vertical direction and the specially designed U-shaped ball cage made of brass eliminates creeping of the cage, which is limited in travel by the use of inside screws.

The slide-top and centre rails are of equal lengths and mounting surfaces are fine machined by precision grinding.

All the flanks of the slide are ground parallel to the guide-ways and so can serve as reference faces.

The slide-top and centre rail are provided with tapped attachment holes drilled to a standard pitch configuration.

These ultra compact miniature slides weigh from 2 to 70g and are aimed at meeting the demand from scientific, pharmaceutical and research establishments.

The Miniscale optical encoder integrated into Schneeberger’s miniature recirculating linear motion guides has a resolution of 1um with a repeatability of +/-2um

Schneeberger’s miniature recirculating linear motion guides are now available with a directly integrated optical encoder to combine load carrying, precision alignment and position feedback functions in one convenient package. The Miniscale system is available in the UK from Basingstoke based LG Motion.

This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 4 June 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories

Distribution deal covers SMAC range
A new agreement allows LG Motion to sell and support the SMAC range, with its proprietary linear motor technology that allows programmable control of speed, position, and force

Website has more on automation and control
New site will be continually updated to provide an important resource for automation and control system professionals throughout Europe

The upper surface of the Miniscale guideway includes a durable, micro-etched scale which is read and interpolated by a very small reading head mounted on the moving carriage.

Cabling is completed with a flexible printed circuit board with length to match the travel range.

With a direct TTL-level quadrature output, the Miniscale’s resolution is 1um with a repeatability of +/-2um.
Further reading

XSlide bearing is inherently self cleaning
The new XSlide linear positioning stageis aimed at medium-precision applications in production, test and research applications where price and performance are important selection criteria

Tables cut the cost of positioning systems
Modular positioning tables provide extremely cost effective manual and motorised positioning solutions for medium precision manufacturing and research applications

Overall accuracy is with +/-3um up to 30mm of travel and +/-10um up to 300mm travel.

The Miniscale is available in four standard rail widths of 7, 9, 12 and 15mm with matching carriages for dynamic load capacity to 3680N.

For dynamic loads up to 4750N and improved offset load capability, four wide rails with increased bearing distribution are available in widths of 14, 18, 24 and 42mm.

Maximum rail lengths are 760 to 960mm with longer versions available upon request.

Schneeberger has developed the Miniscale bearing system to meet the increased acceleration and high speed performance required by linear motor drives.

The low-friction, two-row, miniature recirculating ball and rail motion guide technology ensures quiet running with excellent smoothness that is well suited to scanning or high-speed incremental moves.

The integral measuring system, optimally placed closer to the load, ensures the best precision for backlash-free positioning systems, removing the accumulated ‘lost motion’ errors that are apparent in rotary encoder systems.

Contoured front plates ensure that rails are wiped clean during use and provision for in-situ lubrication is included.

Special environment, clean room and vacuum-compatible versions are also available.

The system offers reduced engineering and assembly times, as well as simplified parts ordering and inventory management.

It is suited to applications in electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, biotechnology and medical equipment, MEMS and metrology systems.

Danaher Motion’s standard range of Thomson ball screws offers precision of between 12um on a length of 300mm

Danaher Motion has released a new generation of Thomson ball screws featuring a complete redesign of the ball recirculation mechanism of the nuts. The resultant advantages are even less wear, further reduced torque variation, and a reduction in noise generation. The innovative diverter systems will first be fitted in ball screws with rolled screws and a screw lead ranging from 5 to 10mm.

This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 8 June 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories

Carbon brush commutation extends motor life
25mm Brushed Ironless DC Motors from Portescap offer a rotational spring that delivers constant spring force

Slotless motors reduce inertia
22mm brushless motors provide fast acceleration and deceleration thanks to low inertia and a low mechanical time constant

All additional models offered by Danaher Motion will also be converted to the new diverter system over time.

Thomson ball screws consist of a lead screw and cylindrical or flange nut.

They have always been characterised by good rigidity, little clearance and quiet operation, allowing for high levels of positioning accuracy.

Some of these characteristics are further enhanced by the new diverter system that is fitted in the nut to ensure simple ball returns.

This in turn increases positioning precision and economic viability still further.

The standard range offers precision of between 12um on a length of 300mm.

All ball screws are designed for ambient temperatures of between -20C and 120C.

Temperatures of no more than 140C are also permitted for intermittent operations.

The corresponding nut units can be preloaded to reduce clearance or produce no clearance at all.

Every Thomson screw can be supplied with customised final machining.

Customers can also order screws with an annealed end for final machining in-house.

At the heart of the TwinBin system is a double bin that has two compartments arranged vertically one above the other and separated by a slide

Hurst Green Plastics produced the TwinBin fastener management system, reducing wastage of fasteners and other small parts in the aerospace, defence and other industries, but was faced with the problem of producing a versatile and cost-effective rack to accommodate the TwinBins. The original arrangement, based on welded steel racks custom fabricated for each order, had many limitations.

This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 20 June 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories

Rail system aids transport of heavy equipment
SCM Materials Handling system for transporting heavy, expensive equipment makes extensive use of the Rexroth 45mm wide ball rail system

Online tool eases automation specification
Once the main information has been input then the Easy-2-Combine system auto-calculates the moment of inertia and will work out the size of the drives required

These are, however, completely eliminated in a new design developed in conjunction with ADM Automation, which is based on aluminium extrusions and accessories from the extensive Bosch Rexroth MGE range of basic mechanical elements.

At the heart of the TwinBin system is a double bin that has two compartments arranged vertically one above the other and separated by a slide.

This allows the bin to be loaded with products that the operator accesses from the lower compartment until it is empty.

Then, by simply withdrawing the slide, the lower compartment can be replenished.

This ensures that the older stock is used first rather than mixed with newer items.
Further reading

Aluminium profiles aid diabetic screening
Rexroth’s MGE modular profile assembly system is applicable to enclosures, special and series machinery and ESD-capable systems

Motion system improves on robotic options
A preconfigured Cartesian Motion Systemhas provided Applied Cooling Technolog with a safe, convenient and cost-effective solution for loading cooling fins into its innovative finning machines

Building system enables flexible manufacturing
Producing ergonomic workstations and efficient materials transfer systems for use in modern lean manufacturing installations is fast, easy and inexpensive with the latest range of MPS products

The empty upper compartments clearly identify bins where stock needs to be added.

The TwinBin system is a Kan Ban solution that adheres to Six Sigma principles.

It not only helps to eliminate stock-outs which interrupt production, but also greatly reduces the risk of spilling or contaminating parts, issues which are particularly important in industries like aerospace and defence.
Latest job opportunities

3D PIPING DESIGN ENGINEERS - PDMS - Germany
3D PIPING DESIGN ENGINEERS
NUCLEAR POWER
SOUTHERN GERMANY
You will be working with a global consulting and engineering company with an outstanding record of achievement.
Both contract and permanent opportunities exist for experienced 3D…

Account / Project / Sales Managers - Gloucestershire
Account / Project / Sales Managers - Gloucestershire / South West. Excellent academic record (2.1 min from a respected university) with experience of account project and/or sales management gained in a professional services technology or engineering…

*** ENGINEERS WANTED! ***
**** ENGINEERS WANTED! ****
We currently have vacancies across Leicester and the East Midlands for skilled engineers in all disciplines. Whether you are currently employed and looking for options or are out of work call us today for a confidential…

TwinBins are housed in racks which, according to customer requirements, can be supplied to accommodate any number of bins.

When the system was first launched, these racks were fabricated from sheet steel and were produced on an order-by-order basis.

‘That gave us a problem’, said Stephen Clarke, Managing Director of Hurst Green Plastics.

‘We could have the bins ready for delivery in just a few days, but it was taking six to eight weeks to get the frames made’.

‘We even tried putting frames into stock to get round this, but that didn’t help with specials, and we also had problems when customers wanted a particular colour of paint finish’.

These were not the only shortcomings of the fabricated steel frames.

They were also heavy and bulky which made them difficult to stock and to transport to site, particularly for the export orders that form a significant part of Hurst Green Plastics’ business.

In addition, the frames were difficult and costly to modify if the end user’s requirements changed.

To find a solution to these problems, Hurst Green Plastics enlisted the aid of ADM Automation, a company with wide experience of designing and fabricating structures for industrial applications.

After carefully analysing the requirements, ADM Automation proposed a solution based on MGE aluminium extrusions from Bosch Rexroth.

Bosch Rexroth has an enormous range of extrusions to choose from, which makes it easy to find exactly the right product.

Secondly, Bosch Rexroth offers a full range of accessories.

‘Finally, as you would expect from a company with the reputation of Bosch Rexroth, quality is beyond reproach’ Clarke said.

‘The new racking concept developed by ADM Automation incorporates three sizes of MGE extrusions together with coupling components from the MGE range’.

‘Where a specialist component required for the application has been designed by ADM, it has been secured to the structure with standard fasteners from the MGE range’.

‘This arrangement means that the racking can be fabricated quickly and, as customers are invariably prepared to accept the natural aluminium finish without painting, the delivery bottleneck that had been so troublesome with the steel racks is eliminated completely’.

‘Further, the new racks are much lighter than their steel predecessors and they have been designed by ADM so that they can be supplied as flat packs, which dramatically reduces shipping costs’.

‘The new racking system also benefits from versatility, allowing customised racks in special configurations to be offered quickly and cost-effectively’.

‘Recent examples have included an L-shaped assembly and a rack the form of a cube, both of which were configured to make best use of the limited space available on the end user’s site’.

‘Finally, the use of aluminium extrusion rather than welded construction for the racks makes them easy to extend and modify’.

‘In particular, because the bins are retained by slide nuts, drilled fixing holes are not necessary’.

‘As a result, when a bin is moved no unsightly holes with potentially sharp edges are left behind’.

‘All of these benefits are provided without any significant cost penalty’.

‘Although the basic materials used in the aluminium frames are more expensive than those used in the old steel frames, the cost of fabrication is reduced and the cost of painting is eliminated entirely’.

‘These savings easily compensate for the small extra expenditure on materials’.

‘Our TwinBin system was well received in the market from day one, but there’s no doubt that the new racking system, based on Bosch Rexroth products, has made it even more attractive to our customers’ Clarke said.

‘And, of course, it’s solved a lot of problems for us’.

‘We no longer have to worry about deliveries and paint colours’.

‘Aluminium extrusion may seem like a very simple product but, as we’ve discovered, it’s got a lot to offer and it can provide really big benefits’.

The hard anodised profile of the PDU2 and its corrosion-resistant internal components help it survive regular cleaning

Hygiene-conscious manufacturers can now make substantial cost-savings on the labour-intensive process of conveyor belt cleaning. Primarily aimed at the food-processing sector, the Keith Handy Design’s mobile Jet System not only automates the task but also enables mesh belt conveyors of different sizes and dimensions to be served by a single unit.

This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 20 June 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories

System controls dosing to weighing cart
Smart Cart can accommodate as many weighing carriages as the application requires

Designing handling systems for heavy applications
Chris Rees offers advice on the design of heavy-duty systems for pick-and-place operations

This makes Jet System a highly a cost-effective investment for small manufacturers.

Providing both structural support for the machine and linear movement of the steam generation head is a HepcoMotion PDU2 Profile Driven Unit.

This robust product combines proven belt technology, advanced materials engineering and Hepco’s expertise in aluminium profile design.
Further reading

Guidance technology improved
DualVee Motion Technology linear guidance technology is now more flexible and more cost-effective

Backup edge trimmer guards against downtime
A purpose-built edge trimmer from HepcoMotion is protecting a major paper manufacturer against costly downtime on its automated systems

It comprises a slotted profile into which fits a drive belt and carriage.

This arrangement effectively seals the unit and creates the clean profile that proved so attractive to Keith Handy when he was specifying a linear system for Jet System.

‘I expected to design the linear system myself but PDU2 fits the bill perfectly and is available off the shelf’, Keith Handy explains.

‘It’s neat, lightweight, compact and allows the span of movement to be adjusted within a smooth profile’.

As the PDU2 is driven by a small, comparatively low-powered stepper motor its low friction characteristic was also considered to be important.

The Herculane wheels that are central to the design of the PDU2 run virtually friction free on the inside surface of the profile and also provide stable support for the carriage plate.

The Jet System uses steam as its power source for cleaning.

Steam generation has developed significantly over recent years.

It is a modern, environmentally sensitive technology that uses no chemicals and minimal water compared to conventional methods.

Furthermore, steam sanitises as it works, breaking down debris and killing bacteria on contact.

‘The hard anodised profile of the PDU2 and its corrosion-resistant internal components were important factors for these relatively hostile conditions’, Keith Handy continues.

‘And with increasing demand for power wash versions of Jet System for the US market the corrosion resistance of the PDU2 is especially important’.

Metric linear actuators are now available with two separate threaded shafts

Metric linear actuators are now available from JW Winco with two separate threaded shafts. The actuators feature guide tubes of chrome plated precision steel, with metal follower nuts and plastic end caps. The tubes are also available in stainless steel. Tubes come in a variety of diameters, and travel lengths up to 1150mm.

The actuators may be ordered with one shaft right hand thread and one shaft left hand thread, both shafts right hand thread, or both left hand thread.

Chris Rees offers advice on the design of heavy-duty systems for pick-and-place operations

When designing systems for heavy handling and pick and place applications, choosing the right linear motion solution can be overwhelming. With such an extensive selection available, the decision often comes down to wheel versus recirculating ball bearing technologies. Considerations in addition to satisfying the application requirements will, of course include price and delivery but often to a lesser extent assembly time and long term maintenance are relegated down the list of requirements as cost issues can take over.

This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 26 June 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories

System controls dosing to weighing cart
Smart Cart can accommodate as many weighing carriages as the application requires

System automates conveyor belt cleaning
The hard anodised profile of the PDU2 and its corrosion-resistant internal components help it survive regular cleaning

The hidden costs can then sometimes be ignored especially if some of the components can be made in house by the customer or contractor.

In considering the total cost we should include labour time associated with installation and long term maintenance.

How much work is the customer willing to undertake with respect to fitting the guidance system to machined steel beams?.

How easy will access be when the system is installed, what about spares, what is likely to fail first and how easy is it to change the failed part?.

A properly sized system can last the lifetime of the machine but only using quality parts can this be guaranteed When analysing specific application requirements, the Hepco HDS range provides a versatile solution.
Further reading

Guidance technology improved
DualVee Motion Technology linear guidance technology is now more flexible and more cost-effective

Backup edge trimmer guards against downtime
A purpose-built edge trimmer from HepcoMotion is protecting a major paper manufacturer against costly downtime on its automated systems

Linear motion components reduce downtime
Field reports confirm that HepcoMotion linear components are still operating well in tea bag machines and packaging machines after four years’ service

With its unprecedented range of components, HDS can meet design needs from the simplest to the most sophisticated system.

At the heart of HDS is the concept of rigid aluminium beam to accommodate the attachment of the system’s single edge precision and commercial plain or rack cut slides.

There are, in fact three sizes of beam the standard version for medium to heavy duty gantry x-axes 130mm wide x 220mm high, the compact beam for z-axis requirements and now the much larger 200mm wide x 300mm high beam for heavy duty gantries Key features include: The versatile construction beam in two standard sizes, plus a compact version; The slide in single lengths up to 4m - longer length systems can be achieved by joining; single edge slides for best load spacing, integral rack drive or plain; two types of bearing elements - range of double row ball bearings up to 128mm diameter for high load, high speed, no maintenance or blocks containing four needle roller bearings for high load where space is an issue; a range of pinions to suit complete with locking bush; loads to 40kN; very high speeds - 5 m/s is not unusual; low friction vee bearing/slide arrangement; high stiffness beams that can be used over long lengths unsupported; a continuous lubrication option available through cap wipers; debris tolerance; quiet operation; and the ability to works in any plane.
Latest job opportunities

Account / Product / Sales Manager - Hampshire
Degree qualified with Sales/Account Management experience gained within the electronics industry. The role includes identifying decision makers decision processes and influences in accounts; compiling tender documents and proposals; obtaining…

Account / Product / Sales Manager - Hampshire
Degree qualified with Sales/Account Management experience gained within the electronics industry. The role includes identifying decision makers decision processes and influences in accounts; compiling tender documents and proposals; obtaining…

Electronics Design Engineer
Contract/Permanent Electronic Design EngineerNeeded to design and develop a motor drive circuit assembly: an electroniccircuit that takes in a three-phase mains power input and connects to athree-phase induction motor, to make it rotate at a specified…

: The rigid beam and drive capability make the HDS ideal for gantry robot design or driven carriage assembly.

Whilst rack driven systems are often preferred in gantries belt driven linear elements are easily accomplished from a standard product.

The HDLS product uses single edge vee slides attached to the beam.

The hollow beam, in turn allows for return of the belt, while the end box design enables easy attachment of the motor and pulleys.

This solution is available as a complete product.

HDS is also ideal for many cutting, lifting, handling applications in automotive and general demanding Industries where customers need to integrate the components into their complete machine.

Aluminium alloy construction beams are a lower overall installed cost alternative to steel sections.

While they do not have the inherent strength of steel sections, when assembled and supported, they will provide more than adequate rigidity and accuracy for even the heaviest pick and place application.

There is also no need to machine steel beams and fit slides as the beam design will accommodate the slides fitted directly to the corners.

When Hepco Heavy Duty steel slides are fitted to the standard Heavy Duty aluminium beam they are especially useful in long length applications, where typically the time and precision required to set recirculating ball bearing type systems can be hours due to the high accuracy required to achieve satisfactory operation.

In contrast, the compliance of the wheel technology utilised by HDS allows a slight reduction in the overall accuracy setting required.

HDS systems can be shipped as assembled units, complete with drive transmission capability, and ready for installation, which reduces overall assembly and installation costs.

So there is no need to set the rails yourself.

What importance does the customer place on required maintenance?.

The answer seems somewhat obvious, but the do-it-yourself approach often taken by customers can, in the long run, be costly in terms of reliability and long term maintenance.

The environment must also be considered - not all environments are conducive to achieving long life.

Certain cutting applications produce debris that can break down many recirculating systems and cause them to fail, particularly without proper maintenance and re-lubrication.

HD wheels are normally fitted with cap wipers, which help prevent debris from contacting the guide wheel, and also provide a lubrication.

An x-z gantry system using the high strength aluminium beam with 220 x 130 and 95mm diameter bearings The larger beam 200 x 300 which could be used for the same application where higher capacity is needed normally uses 128mm diameter bearings, and provides 6 tonnes capacity.

The smaller of the two beams also makes an ideal y-axis, and for the lighter load application, as already mentioned the Compact beam is an ideal choice.

Newly developed for z-axis applications is a high capacity telescopic system axis useful where ceiling or head height is restricted.

The application also benefits from an integral rack drive incorporated into the slide, which saves on the cost and time of installing a separate rack and aligning it accurately.

Continuous lubrication is provided for both vee bearings and rack/pinion.

The Hepco HDS range is suitable for most high load applications where cost and performance are both essential.

Due to its ease of installation, low maintenance and capability to achieve long lengths, it is an ideal choice for heavy duty automation and pick and place gantry systems.

A wide range of accessories and options make HDS extremely versatile, and HDS can be purchased assembled for quick installation, or as individual components for custom designs.

Furthermore constant additions are being made to the range to provide even more choice the addition of a ballscrew driven version utilising the compact beam is one such example.

As expected this is available as a standard product HDCS and has been incorporated into the latest HDS catalogue.

SCM Materials Handling system for transporting heavy, expensive equipment makes extensive use of the Rexroth 45mm wide ball rail system

Invited to supply a system which would reliably and safely transport heavy, high-value products between processing stations used in their manufacture, engineers at SCM materials handling found that equipment from Bosch Rexroth was the key to developing a versatile and cost-effective solution.

This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 3 July 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories

Rack accommodates fastener system
At the heart of the TwinBin system is a double bin that has two compartments arranged vertically one above the other and separated by a slide

Online tool eases automation specification
Once the main information has been input then the Easy-2-Combine system auto-calculates the moment of inertia and will work out the size of the drives required

Though simple in concept, the project presented a number of very specific challenges.

The transport system needed to be robust enough not only to carry the products, weighing eight tonnes each, but also the two-tonne carriages that support the products as they are moved between stations.

The processing stations themselves are, in effect, large heat treatment ovens operating at high-temperatures in excess of 600C.

Sections of the transport system would therefore inevitably be exposed almost continuously to high-temperatures.

In addition to this, aggressive dust is present throughout the operating environment.
Further reading

Aluminium profiles aid diabetic screening
Rexroth’s MGE modular profile assembly system is applicable to enclosures, special and series machinery and ESD-capable systems

Motion system improves on robotic options
A preconfigured Cartesian Motion Systemhas provided Applied Cooling Technolog with a safe, convenient and cost-effective solution for loading cooling fins into its innovative finning machines

Building system enables flexible manufacturing
Producing ergonomic workstations and efficient materials transfer systems for use in modern lean manufacturing installations is fast, easy and inexpensive with the latest range of MPS products

During processing, the products are transported over a horizontal distance of 25-30mm and at each processing station they need to be raised by around 400mm vertically to allow entry into the oven.

The speed of movement required is low - from a product entering the system to leaving - but smooth transport is essential, as is positional accuracy.

In spite of their large size and mass, the products must be positioned to within 0.1mm when they arrive at a processing station.
Latest job opportunities

Account / Project / Sales Managers - Gloucestershire
Account / Project / Sales Managers - Gloucestershire / South West. Excellent academic record (2.1 min from a respected university) with experience of account project and/or sales management gained in a professional services technology or engineering…

*** ENGINEERS WANTED! ***
**** ENGINEERS WANTED! ****
We currently have vacancies across Leicester and the East Midlands for skilled engineers in all disciplines. Whether you are currently employed and looking for options or are out of work call us today for a confidential…

Account / Project / Sales Managers - Gloucestershire
Account / Project / Sales Managers - Gloucestershire / South West. Excellent academic record (2.1 min from a respected university) with experience of account project and/or sales management gained in a professional services technology or engineering…

A final but crucial requirement was reliability.

With each product costing many thousands of pounds and with the possibility that multiple products would be simultaneously present in the system, interruptions to the normal operation had the potential to be extremely costly.

After carefully assessing the requirements of the application, and surveying the market for equipment that could be used in developing a convenient and cost-effective solution, the engineers at SCM Materials Handling decided to base their design on products from Rexroth.

‘A big attraction of working with Rexroth was that, through past experience with the company, we knew that we could rely 100% on product quality and also that the company would be willing and able to provide us with any technical support we might need during the project’, said Alan Watkins of SCM Materials Handling.

‘Another very important factor in our decision was that Rexroth could supply all of the key components we needed for the project’, he continued.

‘Having a single source of supply is a very big benefit; not only does it simplify ordering and logistics, it also means that if support should be needed there’s never any problem over divided responsibilities’.

The final design, developed by engineers from SCM Materials Handling, working in close collaboration with the Bosch Rexroth customer support team, makes extensive use of the Rexroth 45mm wide ball rail system.

This versatile system provides high load handling capacity in all directions and thanks to a special design with four ball circuits, very low operating friction.

It has also been designed to minimise lubrication requirements, even when used in demanding environments.

Mounted on a heavy-duty fabricated steel framework, two continuous runs of ball rail are used to provide horizontal transport through the full 28m length of the installation.

The systems devised to raise the products vertically at each processing station are also implemented using Rexroth 45mm ball rail.

‘In spite of the high operating temperatures, we were able to use standard ball rail products’, said Alan Watkins.

‘Providing the high degree of protection against dust ingress we needed was also straightforward as Rexroth products intrinsically offer a high degree of ingress protection and in demanding applications like ours this can easily be enhanced with readily available seal and scraper options’.

Motive power for both the vertical and horizontal motions (vertical ball screw unit) is provided by rack and pinion drives used in conjunction with Indradrive compact servodrives, all supplied by Rexroth.

Implementation of the drive system, which gives users a choice of manual or fully automatic control, was fast and straightforward as the controllers are easy to parameterise.

They also incorporate a wide range of internal functions that can be used as building blocks when developing application software.

The drive system is complemented by an electronic control panel (HMI) with a full colour display that makes extensive use of graphics.

This not only provides readily accessible information on the status and performance of the transport system, but also gives users full control over it via an intuitive interface.

In addition to ensuring the efficient reliable operation of the transport system, SCM Materials Handling was also tasked with providing guards to cover the whole of the area occupied by the installation.

For this, the company chose to use the Rexroth EcoSafe protective fence system.

Supplied in the form of modular panels that can be quickly assembled to guard areas of almost any shape or size, EcoSafe provided an efficient approach to fully and securely enclosing the transport system.

Standard EcoSafe products, custom finished in line with the end user’s paint colour specification, were used for the majority of the installation but, for those areas of the fence exposed to prolonged high temperatures, Rexroth fabricated and supplied stainless steel panels.

‘This is a prestigious project for one of the world’s leading engineering companies’, said Alan Watkins.

‘Products from Bosch Rexroth, and the excellent support we received from the company, made it possible for us to produce an efficient, dependable and cost-effective solution’.

‘Our client is delighted with how easy the system is to use and also with its performance’.

‘Its reliability, a critical issue, has also proved to be beyond reproach’.

‘Overall this has been a very successful project and we’re looking forward to working with the Bosch Rexroth team on future contracts’.