Whispah Linear Slide suitable for non-contaminating linear motion applications

LM76 (www.lm76.com), a world leader in self lubricating linear motion bearings, has unveiled a linear slide ideal for non-contaminating linear motion applications such as pharmaceutical, medical and food processing equipment — the Whispah Linear Slide.

Offering smooth motion, the new linear slide is exceptionally quiet and is low cost. The Whispah Linear Slide has been specifically developed to fully utilize LM76’s Minute Man Linear Bearings’ properties, such as high load capacity, low friction, high speed (400 SFM), self lubrication, shock absorption, very low friction (0.09 to 0.12 C of F), zero absorption and noiseless.

Aside from non-contaminating environments, the stable two rail Whispah Linear Slide is also well suited for use in harsh environments such as welding systems, caustic wash downs, ceramic tile wet saws and outdoor (all-weather) applications.

The new Whispah Linear Slide comes in two different sizes. The WSP 2 Twin Rail System, which can handle greater load and provide higher stability, features 6.00” long x 7.00” wide table with a bearing centerline to centerline measurement of 2.906”. Meanwhile, the low profile WSP 1 Twin Rail System has 4.00” long x 5.50” wide table and a bearing centerline to centerline of 2.125”, can support side loads (Co-rad) to 75 lbs and vertical loads (Co-ax) to 150 lbs.

Both versions are offered in lengths to 120”. For longer life, aluminum two rail extrusion of the Whispah Linear Slide is covered with a Hardcoat finish. It also features predrilled mounting holes, making integration into existing or new systems easy. Although it is a low profile system, it still has room for easy mounting of electro-mechanical linear actuator or pneumatic cylinder to operate the slide.

PBC Linear’s Uni-Guide Design Helps Team Win FRC Innovation Award

The FRC (First Robotic Competition) is put on through FIRST and used to provide hands-on design/mechanical physics and engineering experience to high school students—along with valuable teamwork building and project management skills. This year, Team 2641 (a.k.a. the Vikings) of Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School decided to implement PBC Linear’s Uni-Guide linear slide for reliable operation of their robot’s “kicking” mechanism. Installed into a system they designed, the Vikings took the Uni-Guide through a host of competitive events throughout the country, pitting their design against other high school teams in a remote game put together to test the ingenuity of each team.

FRC varies their game every year. For 2010, FRC rolled out Breakaway: a team effort game using a 27’ x 54’ carpeted field divided into thirds by two 13’’ barriers. The teams are grouped into alliances (3 teams and 3 robots per alliance). The robots use varied student-made designs to toss soccer balls at targets located on either side of the field in order to score points—the Vikings accomplished this utilizing their Uni-Guide controlled design. Teams can also score points by elevating or suspending robots by climbing towers at the center of the dividing barriers. To summarize, the alliance has 2 minutes 15 seconds to score the most points using their 3 unique and FRC approved robots.

At the beginning of the season, each team is given a strict budget of $3500.00 to create their unique robot design. For their robot, the Vikings required a reliable linear guide system to conduct the kicking mechanism in order to shoot the soccer balls into the targets. The linear guide would need to endure several performance obstacles: high shock vibration from periodic impact crashes during the game; functioning in particulate-heavy environments due to steel and aluminum filings; and fast changing repeatability under high charged loads.

The Vikings decided to go with PBC Linear’s Uni-Guide system. Using a motor driven, dual-carriage design, the Uni-Guide would drive one carriage down the slide and attach to the other. As the second carriage was retracted back up the slide, potential energy built-up—awaiting the trigger’s release. Once triggered, the carriage releases in a slingshot-like motion to provide the kicking foot with enough energy to easily knock soccer balls into the goal.

The Uni-Guide was the perfect solution. The linear slide’s plane bearing technology sustained smooth velocity control for the operation of the “kicking foot.” Containing no rolling elements, the Uni-Guide tolerates shock forces and contamination without experiencing system failure or binding. The simple, two-piece (rail and carriage) assembly mounts to existing systems and is precision machined to ensure high accuracy and repeatable travel. This reduces cost by eliminating further alignment machining and fasteners that other multiple piece linear guide assemblies require. Available in driven or un-driven assemblies with multiple carriages, the Uni-Guide is well-suited for unique applications that necessitate sophisticated control—even in harsh surroundings.

Put to the test in three regional competitions, the Vikings’ robot excelled in mechanical performance due to the team’s innovative design and hard-working components; such as the Uni-Guide. The Vikings were even recognized for their design, winning an award for Innovation and Control at the 2010 Long Island Regional (at which they also took first place). To learn more about the Vikings Robotics Team or FRC, please visit their website at http://robotics.centralcathorlichs.com/node/1.

PBC Linear
UniGuide.pbclinear.com

Bimba Introduces New Movable Housing Linear Slide

Monee, IL—Bimba Manufacturing introduces the newest addition to their linear slide product offering, the Movable Housing Linear Thruster. The Movable Housing Linear Slide is available in bore sizes 9/16” through 3”, spanning 7 different bore sizes and five guide shaft diameters. In addition, the Movable Housing Linear Slide is available with ball bearings (Model TMH) or composite bearings (Model TEMH) with both styles housed in black anodized carriages.

“This design compares favorably to competitive movable housing or gantry slides in load carrying capability, offering up to 50% more load carrying capability than the most popular competitive models,” said Bimba’s linear thruster Product Manager, Tom Carlson. To achieve increased load carrying, the new Movable Housing linear thruster uses a precision machined housing, guided by precision ground, case hardened chrome plated shafts powered by Bimba’s original round line cylinders.

Bimba Manufacturing
www.bimba.com

The New ZF1 Belt Drive Slide from Techno, Inc.

New Hyde Park, NY – Techno, Inc. Linear Motion Systems is proud to announce the ZF1 Belt Drive Slide, a low cost, economical slide that can lower your costs in factory automation applications. This lightweight model is driven by a 9 mm wide HTD belt that can be ordered in travels ranging from 153 mm (6”) through 2853 mm (112.3”). Perfect for tight spaces, the ZF1 Belt Drive Slide is 30 mm wide with an accompanying carriage that is 72 mm wide. The small width of the slide allows it to fit into tight spaces, increasing the versatility and options any machine builder might need in their design. 

Techno’s ZF1 Belt Drive Slides have a maximum speed of 1.5 m/sec., and can be ordered with a 200W (2:1 Ratio), 100W (2:1 Ratio) servomotors, 50 N•cm, 160 N•cm (2:1 Ratio) stepper motors, or a 2:1 Ratio Assembly with no motor. The belt drive pulley is 19.1 mm in diameter and has a specific mass of 0.0225 kg/m.

http://www.techno-isel.com/tic/Catdas/ZF1.htm

Linear Slide Moves Up Smoothly

Roscoe, IL - A manufacturer of silicon wafer handling equipment touts the ability of its equipment to deliver smooth vertical transportation of wafers. Such smooth motion comes from the Uni-Guide linear slide, from PBC Linear. 

Standard Mechanical Interface (SMIF) Pod safely transports wafers between production processes. The Pods are attached to a Pod elevator that allows a robot to horizontally pick and place the wafer into the tool. Smooth vertical motion is essential to prevent damage to the wafers.

In this manufacturer’s wafer handling equipment, wafers are stacked in a cassette housed in a Standard Mechanical Interface (SMIF) Pod for safe transport between processes. The Pods provide a mini-environment (class 1) to prevent contamination and are the temporary home of the wafers during processing. 

The Pods are attached to a Pod elevator, which allows the robot servicing the processing tool to horizontally pick and place the wafer into the tool.   

The Pod elevator must move smoothly to prevent the wafer in the cassette from vibrating free or out of position for the robot.  Either of these conditions could have serious consequences, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damaged wafers. Although the mini-environment protects the wafers, it is necessary that the environment they reside in remain clean (Class 10) to avoid any contamination during the exterior loading and unloading process.  

The automation company originally came to PBC Linear for a chatter or vibration free linear guide that could function in a contaminant-free manufacturing facility without dispersing particulates or requiring lubrication. The Uni-Guide linear slide with its simple two-piece assembly and proven Frelon® J liner was the obvious choice to handle the silicon wafer transport system. 

Each specialized Uni-Guide linear slide is carefully constructed and put through rigorous testing in PBC Linear’s clean workroom environment.

With a proven history in similar applications, the Uni-Guide has a solid track record of precise linear motion without added lubricants.  The customer, however, was also reaching for more; they wanted a turnkey system to act as the heart of the new wafer elevator.  PBC Linear’s team of engineers worked with the customer to design a complete system that simply plugs in with the machine. Subsequently, PBC Linear not only supplied the slide but also began to supply the motors, drive screws, guards, limit switches—preassembled and tested.

Assembled in PBC Linear’s clean workroom, the Uni-Guide is subjected to critical testing for accurate travel and alignment. Measures are taken to ensure the sterile transportation of the Uni-Guide from testing to arrival at its destination.