Transcript
Translation of article “Neue Portalachsen bieten Spitzenleistung“ originally published in Handling, issue 9 2016, pages 22-23
New portal axes provide top performances Complex customer applications are in high demand. Modular handling systems – versatile in their application and simple in their implementation – are manufactured by eps, the youngest company within the Afag Group.
Handling systems with advantages over Scara robots: space-saving, flexible and dynamic. (Photos: Afag)
Delivered fully wired and connected to a valve block, the very first eps handling system arrived 20 years ago and could be put into operation upon receipt. On this basis, the eps team developed a range of handling systems that is probably the most comprehensive on the market. Customers can access it online via the parts server and configure it as they see fit. Over the course of the past two years, the innovative electric linear motor and rotational axis designs from eps, the youngest member of th Afag Group, were converted to the proven Afag drilling pattern. Now, designers are provided with a consistent, future-proof modular kit with electric and pneumatic linear axes, rotational axes and grippers. While an emphasis was placed on simple pick and place systems with high cyclic outputs were a few years ago, priorities have now shifted. Complex systems with four or more degrees of freedom and/or several assembly heads are now the focal point of customer applications. They are based on newly developed PEL and PDL linear motor axes with peak forces from 67 N to 1,024 N and strokes from 80 mm up to 1,660 mm. Through the new design and optimisation of the heat sink, the new portal axes provide performance levels that are up to 70% higher and they feature an increased level of rigidity at the same time. The uniform base element with two guides forms the basis for this. Depending on the application, the corresponding slide with four guide carriages is added to the base element, therefore forming the rigid PDL portal axis (portal double-guide linear motor). The PEL axes (portal single-guide linear motor) supplement the modular kit for compact systems in a lower payload range. If the maximum strokes of the linear motor axes are not sufficient, toothed belt axes will be added to the modular kit. The new design of the axes and systems allows the performance to be significantly increased yet again. Weight-optimised axes with large cooling surfaces and optimal combinability form the basis for light, rigid and dynamic systems. The benefits for customers are obvious: high cyclical outputs, as well as varied combination possibilities and numerous peripherals.
The handling configurator provides 18 basic systems The 18 basic systems are based on seven linear motor axes. These are supplemented with electric or pneumatic rotational axes and grippers to create countless combinations. With the new design of the modules and systems, adapted to the Afag program, new type designations have also been assigned. Each systems begins with the three letters EPS, which stand for "Efficient Production Systems". The linear motor axes are divided into three sizes: "20", "30" and "40", and thereby allow you to make the right selection – from the small and rapid pick and place application to the application of force. This is also reflected in the structure of the systems. With a peak force of 137 N, the "mini" range is suitable for compact applications. The "midi" range is used when high dynamics and rigidity are required for medium loads. The "maxi" system range provides high rigidity for large loads. Here, high loads can be dynamically moved with forces of up to 1,024 N, and press-in tasks may also be performed.
Translation of article “Neue Portalachsen bieten Spitzenleistung“ originally published in Handling, issue 9 2016, pages 22-23
Independent operation of multiple linear motor slides Several slides that function independently of each other can be installed on an axis. As a result, complex mounting tasks such as the transfer of workpieces from gripper to gripper may be performed without running the risk of collision. Here, each vertical axis can be equipped with peripherals in accordance with user requirements. The pneumatically-driven DG16 rotating gripper is attached to the right vertical axis, with an adjustable swivelling angle of 90 or 180 degrees and a jaw stroke of two-bythree millimetres. The left vertical axis is equipped with an electrically-driven SE20 swivel unit and a pneumatic PG16 gripper. The gripper can be continuously rotated due to the integrated fluid feedthrough in the swivel axis. This function is important for screwing processes, for example, the sealing of bottles. Therefore, a torque-controlled screwing procedure is possible for various items.
Four-axis handling system in flexible feeding When using an Afag flexible feeding system, an eps handling system demonstrates clear advantages in flexibility when compared with Scara robots. The handling system takes up less space when the X axis is parallel to the Aflex. A camera determines the position of the bulk goods on the vibrating plate, and the dynamic X, Y, Z and C handling moves the gripped parts to the customer's deposition area. The result is a space-saving, flexible and dynamic feeding unit, which Afag provides as a complete assembly.
Afag feeding system: A camera determines the position of the bulk goods.
A virtual vertical shaft connects the handling systems The combination of the linear transfer module (LTM) and flexible handling systems provides cyclical outputs of significantly more than 60 cycles per minute. Movements can be precisely overlaid through the track-controlled synchronisation of the handling and transport system. This not only facilitates high cyclical outputs but also a gradual synchronous startup; this is something that customers appreciate very much during the commissioning phase of camcontrolled machines. In comparison with mechanically cam-controlled machines, the virtual solution provides significantly higher flexibility in the event of procedure changes and extremely short changeover times during product changes. Whether as a simple pick and place system, with the highest cyclical output in combination with the LTM or as a flexible feeding system, the application decides which of the 18 basic systems is best suited to the respective task. From the design of the systems right through to the control technology, the technicians will offer individual consultation and also create customised offers within the areas of feeding, handling and transport, together with CAD layout and cycle time calculations with cycle time guarantee.
The combination of the linear transfer module (LTM) and flexible handling systems achieves outputs of at least 60 cycles per minute.
