Linear technology
The pressure on beverage manufacturers to produce hygienically is increasing: consumer demands for product safety are growing and global standards from authorities such as the FDA are becoming stricter. As a result, the demands on machine and system components are also increasing. To enable machine builders and operators to achieve hygienic, low-maintenance and fail-safe production, igus will be presenting lubrication-free drylin linear and drive technology in hygienic design at BrauBeviale 2024 in Nuremberg (Hall 7, Stand 436), including a design study for a ready-to-install SHT linear axis. This not only fulfils FDA and EU requirements, but also meets the EHEDG guidelines with regard to cleanability.
As PFAS substances might be more strictly regulated in future, more and more companies in the manufacturing industry are already looking for product solutions that do not use this controversial group of chemicals. To offer customers a safe and transparent solution for telescopic rails, igus has developed a new version of the drylin NT-60 – a telescopic rail made of aluminium whose plain bearing material does without PTFE and around 100 other PFAS compounds. The sliding elements feature installation sizes 35 and now also 60, and are used in a PTFE-free and PFAS-tested telescopic rail system. It can be continuously extended to a maximum of 2m and is found in vehicles, furniture and medical technology, among others.
The motion plastics specialist igus is expanding their drive technology range with new toothed belt axes: the compact, robust and lubrication-free drylin ZLX high-performance series. The anodised aluminium profile of the axes has been developed in a completely new geometric design. As a result, drylin ZLX not only looks like a mechanical engineering profile, but can also be quickly and easily integrated into a modular profile system. With a load capacity of 150N and speeds of up to 3m/s, the new toothed belt axis is suitable for automated production lines, pick-and-place systems and 3D printers, among others.
Produce orthoses that splint injured fingers in hospital in record time using a 3D printer: students at Trier University of Applied Sciences are developing a compact platform that measures fingers. The igus Young Engineers Support (yes) is supporting them by providing free miniature linear guides.
Cost-effective automation in a confined installation space. To provide an easy introduction to automation, igus has now developed a new double-shaft stepper motor for its drylin linear technology. It can be used to drive two linear axes. Another possible application is the installation of a hand wheel on the second drive shaft. In an emergency, users can turn the motor by hand. Manual zero point calibration is also possible
Laboratory equipment, espresso machines, tiny houses: wherever installation space is scarce and components are difficult to reach, designers are looking for space-saving and maintenance-free linear guides for adjustment and positioning tasks. igus is therefore adding new miniature linear guides in Installation Size 06 to its drylin W series. They are not only compact but also lubrication-free.
Injection-moulded from regranulated high-performance plastic and therefore very cost-effective and sustainable, the new polymer carriages from the igus drylin econ series make adjustment and positioning tasks simple. They cost less than 20% of what their milled aluminium counterparts do. Thanks to movable bearings, they can even handle cornering on curved aluminium rails without any problems.
The robot kitchen from Cook-e, a French company, prepares fresh, healthy dishes without human help and is intended to relieve restaurateurs of the pressure associated with the skilled worker shortage. To allow the robot to operate even in restaurants with little space, the developers use compact, hygienic igus toothed belt axes.
Festival season is in full swing. To keep the queues at the beer to reasonable lengths, One Two Beer GmbH has developed an automatic beer tap. Its core is a mobile tap head that moves to the bottom of the cup, which it fills in five seconds without foam-over – built with a lubrication-free, hygienic, durable lead screw from the igus dryspin series.
Wood and plastic? Is that a good combination? The motion plastics specialist igus has researched the idea in a recent design study and tested the friction and wear behaviour of its plastic linear bearings on a wide variety of wood, and the result is impressive. The drylin econ J4 plain bearing has demonstrated its exceptional compatibility with various kinds of wood, opening new possibilities for furniture makers and design engineers when choosing materials.