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Linear motion system glides in on synthetic wheels

01 December, 2002

Linear motion system glides in on synthetic wheels

Hepco has come up with a new linear motion technology which, it claims, plugs a gap in the market. Essentially, the Profile Driven Unit (PDU) consists of a belt-driven carriage that runs on high-tech synthetic wheels along a slotted aluminium profile. The result, according to Hepco, is a compact, mechanically simple, attractively priced, linear motion technology which is suitable for a range of duties from light-load, slow-moving applications, to dynamically arduous, high-speed installations.

The wheels are made from a synthetic material called Herculane, developed to Hepco`s specification. The material is said to be extremely strong, resistant to creep and, unlike conventional plastics, will not develop flat spots. The bearings require no lubrication, reducing the need for maintenance. The PDU carriage runs on eight of the low-friction wheels, mounted at 45-degree angles, to match the profile`s vee-section.

The PDU has a maximum load capacity of 600N and can run at speeds of up to 6m/s over lengths of up to 6m. The profile`s cross-section is just 60mm by 51mm, and the system`s operating life is said to be 500km.

A second PDU and can mounted on the carriage plate to create a compact, high-performance X-Y system, quickly and easily. End-of-stroke protection is built in.

The PDU can be driven by a choice of standard or geared, induction or stepper motors. Hepco is offering a range of suitable planetary gearboxes with plug-in couplings, with ratios from 3:1 to 512:1. The torsionally stiff couplings give up to 1.2 degrees of wind-up at full torque.

The PDU system costs around £500 per metre.




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