The Roboloop system combines the benefits of a precision tracked guideway with high accuracy rack and pinion drive and high load carrying capabilitiesGudel UK's new Roboloop heavy duty transfer and positioningsystem will form the centrepiece of the company'spresentation of precision linear and drive technology equipmenton Stand 5949 of the MACH 2000 show - to be held at the NECbetween 10-14 April. The Roboloop system combines the benefits ofa precision tracked guideway with high accuracy rack and piniondrive and high load carrying capabilities. It achieves majorspace and cost savings over installations using linear transferlines with inter-linked conveyors by featuring switching andcross-over stations, as well as straight and curved tracksections.
It is a modular system incorporatingindependently-controlled mobile carrier units capable ofdistributing components weighing up to 630 kg between workstations at speeds of 200 metres/min.
Positional accuracy andrepeatability performance of better than +0.1 mm are alsoachieved by the system.
RoboLoop's versatility enablesalternative routings to be specified for different manufacturingvariants or assembly build levels.
In addition, RoboLoopaccommodates multiple workstation configurations, not only toensure optimum machine tool utilisation, but also to permit toolchanges and machine setting to be undertaken within continuousproduction environments.
The system is particularly suitable forhigh volume metal working, assembly and manufacturingapplications in the automotive and process sectors and isavailable with both single or multi-axis carrier options.
Thesecan be floor or overhead mounted; with suspended variantsoffering the added benefit of improved access to manufacturingequipment and minimised in-process stock storage costs.
Thelatest additions to Gudel's range of precision linear anddrive technology components for machine tool, automation andspecial machine building applications will also be highlighted onthe company's stand at MACH 2000.
Enabling users to engineercomplete solutions to their component handling and automationproblems, the recently-extended series includes precision drivepinions, racks, rollers, carriages and guideways, as well as awide variety of low backlash worm gear and bevel drive units.Produced in both module and metric sizes up to module 8.0 and 20mm pitch, the company's drive pinions ensure high accuracyand low backlash operation when used in conjunction with itsmatched series of straight or helical rack units.
Racks areavailable in steel in precision cut, precision cut and hardened,or hardened and ground variants capable of withstanding loads upto 50,000 Newtons.
They are also offered in stainless steel and avariety of special finishes to combat aggressive or corrosiveoperating environments.
A further range of low-cost injectionmoulded Polyoximethylen rack units is provided for light tomedium duty applications.
All Gudel racks are manufactured toclose tolerances ready for use in continuous runs withoutmodification.
In addition, they can be supplied with pre-drilledmounting holes for rapid fixing.
To mark the availability of itsmillennium range, Gudel has also published a free 360-pagebooklet, giving specification data for its complete range ofdrive system components.
Copies of this valuable reference guideare also available on request from Gudel UK.