Linear Motion Handbook from Rexroth
March 2, 2010 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Featured, Linear Actuators, Linear Guides
Hoffman Estates, Ill. – A new 350+ page Linear Motion Technology Handbook from Rexroth is an educational, engineering reference book on linear motion technology and its uses, offering everything from a review of basic principles to examples of practical applications. It deals extensively with all common types of linear motion guides, as well as ball screw drives and ready-to-install linear motion actuators and Cartesian systems.
The first section of the handbook provides insights into the fundamental physical principles involved in linear motion technology, including information about the structural design, operating principles and characteristics of linear motion technology components. Topics such as rolling contact, life expectancy, pre-load, rigidity, accuracy and lubrication are also discussed in detail.
Later sections describe the structural design and technical characteristics of the manufacturer’s linear bushings and shafts, profiled rail systems, ball screw assemblies, and ready-to-install linear motion actuators and Cartesian robots. Readers will also find useful design hints and advice on product selection, assembly and installation, as well as tips for cost-effective project engineering.
To download individual sections of the handbook or to get the entire handbook, visit
www.boschrexroth-us.com/country_units/america/united_states/en/index.jsp
Rexroth CKK Ball Screw Actuators Raise Performance for Wind Turbine Builders
August 25, 2009 by admin
Filed under Ball / Lead Screws
Wind turbine technology is an established sustainable, green technology. Many consider it a technology that will help define the energy future. But wind energy also depends, to a great extent, on more traditional manufacturing techniques, such as welding – vitally important for creating the massive towers.
One of the leaders in creating welding solutions for the energy industry – as well as many other applications – is Rexburg, ID-based machine builder AMET Inc. (www.ametinc.com). Recently, AMET called upon the Linear Motion and Assembly Technology specialists of Bosch Rexroth to help them create a new generation of custom welding systems for the increasingly important wind energy industry.
The design of AMET welding equipment – and the role of linear motion technologies – is largely dictated by the techniques required to create massive wind turbine towers that can be around 90 meters high (close to 300 feet). During a weld, while the bulk of the equipment remains stationary, the weld head constantly moves small distances along at least 2 axes, both along and across the seam. A linear control actuator mounted at the end of a horizontal arm determines the motion of the weld head.
The design of AMET welding equipment is largely dictated by the techniques required to create massive wind turbine towers that can be nearly 90 meters high.
AMET’s goal was to create a cost-effective, dependable welding system that could perform accurate longitudinal and circumferential submerged arc welding. One of the most important challenges, however, was to assure smooth and precise (within 1/100th of an inch) control of the weld head, to avoid improper welds that would need to be redone and ultimately result in wasted time and materials. And this precise control had to be maintained within a very demanding environment. “The tremendous amount of particulates, especially flux dust, generated by this form of welding can really cause problems for this machine’s finer controls, particularly with systems such as linear actuators,” said Craig Dees, AMET Engineering Manager.
AMET also wanted linear motion elements that offered good strength (dynamic loads in excess of 20,000 Newton) with light weight and compact size. Yet another challenge was to support smooth weld head acceleration of up to 3 meters per second squared (3m/s2), for a travel speed of 1.5 meters per minute.
To meet these needs, AMET turned to a familiar source for linear motion: Northwest Motion, Inc. (www.nwmotion.com), a distributor of Rexroth linear motion products. Rexroth precision-ground, hardened steel guide rails were to be specified for the guide rail that carries the suspended weld head for outside welding. With the CKK Compact Modules, however, AMET put Rexroth linear motion systems in a particularly crucial role.
The compact CKK design, light in weight but durable and strong, makes machine assembly smoother and easier. “We knew that other linear motion solutions couldn’t give us the reliability and protection against contamination and pitting that the CKK modules could,” Dees says.
Another important feature leading to better and faster machine production is the fact that CKK 20-145 modules are complete, prepackaged systems, with dual ball rails and a ball screw drive integrated into the module. This simplifies design, saves space, and removes the costs and effort of machining, assembly, bearing alignment and other application engineering tasks.
Download the complete case study from the Bosch Rexroth Case Studies & Technical Papers web page.
Bosch Rexroth
www.boschrexroth-us.com
Bosch Rexroth Introduces New MKK and MKR Linear Modules
March 2, 2009 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Linear Guides, Uncategorized
Charlotte, NC - Rexroth has expanded its extensive range of linear modules with the new MKK hygienic modules and the MKK and MKR 12-40 miniature linear modules. MKR hygienic modules are ideal for food processing machinery and other food or packaging applications. The MKK and MKR 12-40 miniature modules have the smallest and most compact aluminum profile in the series, allowing them to solve new applications where size is a factor and performance can not be sacrificed.
MKR Hygienic Linear Modules
The new MKR hygienic option has a specially-designed aluminum profile that is smoother than standard MKR bodies to prevent build-up of liquids and foreign debris. Combined with the MKR’s proven stainless steel strip cover for the drive and guide elements, the new design allows the MKR to eliminate residual liquid in applications such as food processing machines or other washdown environments.
These new hygienic modules are precise, high-performance linear systems with compact dimensions in a ready-to-mount design. With lengths up to 12 meters and speeds to 5 m/s, the belt-driven MKR hygienic modules use precision Rexroth Ball Rail® systems for internal guidance to achieve precise positioning. For additional protection against contamination, thin dense chrome plating can be applied to many internal components. Standard peripherals include add-on parts for Rexroth servo motors, suitable regulators, and controls.
MKK and MKR 12-40 Miniature Linear Modules
The new MKK and MKR 12-40 miniature linear module option offers big performance in a small footprint to meet demanding speed and load requirements. The modules feature a rigid aluminum frame, and can be specified in either a belt-driven version for precise positioning and zero backlash, or a ballscrew-driven version to achieve travel speeds of up to 3 m/s.
MKK and MKR 12-40 miniature modules boast an excellent price-to-performance ratio and are well-suited to applications in the food and packaging, medical, material handling, semiconductor and automotive industries. They are ideal for gantry-style applications, pick-and-place, loading/unloading, assembly, positioning and inspection tasks. The miniature modules have a single-point lubrication design that reduces maintenance time and cost, and lengths can be specified from 250mm to 2,500mm depending on the drive.
VarioFlow™ Modular Conveyor Brochure from Bosch Rexroth
February 18, 2009 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Conveyors
Buchanan, MI - The Linear Motion and Assembly Technologies group of Bosch Rexroth Corporation has just released a new VarioFlow™ Modular Conveyor brochure to help machine builders, integrators and end-users design and implement flexible conveyor systems for a wide range of material handling and packaging applications. The brochure is available for download at www.boschrexroth-us.com/VarioFlow.
The brochure contains information about flexible chain styles and widths; profiles and guides for unique layouts; drives and gearmotors for lower energy usage; UltraCurve™ technology to minimize friction; workpiece pallets for special applications, and other conveyor components that reduce setup time and improve conveyor performance, while lowering users’ Total Cost of Ownership.
To improve usability for factory operators and production line managers, VarioFlow offers strength and flexibility with long-lasting, reliable system components that use less energy and can be easily changed, moved, or expanded to meet changing needs.
For OEMs building specific production machines requiring conveyor motion, VarioFlow offers many different chain types to fit any machine type or function.
For System Integrators building complete production lines, VarioFlow provides the performance and lower TCO to satisfy demanding end-user requirements.
