Medical Manufacturing
Medical manufacturing requires precision link conveyors to have high speed and accuracy as well as being clean and maintenance free.
Understanding Linear Systems
Unlike traditional conveyors used for feeding parts or general locating, precision link conveyors are designed for manufacturing to be done directly on parts, assemblies or products. For linear transfer operations that require intermittent movement of products or components with a cadence that includes quick yet precise part, product or container location interspersed with longer and accurate dwell times, precision link conveyors are often the best linear transfer option.
Precision link conveyors are used in high volume, high speed manufacturing environments with high part counts sometimes reaching into the millions. As a result they are designed to achieve excellent product quality and production efficiency over very high manufacturing cycles and life spans with low maintenance.
Precision index conveyors consist of precision-machined aluminum links which are driven by a high-performance unit consisting of an index drive, gear reducer and a brake motor. Hardened dual drive sprockets guarantee a backlash-free motion transmission between the drive unit and conveyor chain links, which translates to accuracies of up to +/- .006” linearly.
Do you have a manufacturing process that is being automated that needs to move a product from station to station? If so, you will have a multitude of choices to accomplish this movement or transfer between stations. To help you decide what solution is best and when to use a precision link indexing conveyor, you can ask the following questions:
These questions will help you as you consider precision indexing conveyors for your application. For more information to help you decide if a precision link conveyor is right for you, view our white paper or contact one of our engineers.
Key to Continuous Repeatability
Precision link conveyors use a run of high precision drive chain that is looped to create one continuous run. Each link of the chain is purpose designed to create a high repeatability long life assembly. Because weight of the chain links impacts the life of wearing components such as bearings and pins and the torque needed to accelerate and decelerate the moving assembly, the links are often made of aluminum.
The links are mounted on cam followers that ride within precisely milled and hardened steel rails. The cam followers are pressed into needle bearings at each link joint to eliminate wear and extend life. Cam followers may be lubricated and sealed for life, particularly in manufacturing areas requiring high cleanliness such as food manufacturing or that are dirty, dusty or prone to liquids.
Links are made with tapped holes to interface with parts or products directly or to mount component or assembly holders.
Precision link conveyors are often customized to meet the needs of the linear transfer system application. Most applications require long dwell times and quick indexing. The drive can be a servomotor coupled with a high accuracy servo reducer or it can be a rotary indexer. Closed loop motor control systems maintain excellent speed and accuracy. Rotary indexers can provide a wide range of link stroke lengths from a few millimeters to over a meter.
At the non-drive end of the conveyor, hardened cams guide the chain and the guides are preloaded to take up slack and prevent backlash in the system.
Precision link conveyors are usually designed for linear transfer, but can be manufactured to custom shapes. Customization can also include drive unit customization, pitches and strokes, hole tap sizes and configurations, mounting plates and chassis mounting options for accessories such as instrumentation or fixtures. Linear transfer systems can be customized to protect wearing parts from liquid or solid ingress or to cover pinch points for worker safety.
Integrating a Better System
Rotary index tables are often critical parts of manufacturing workflows. Rotary index tables that can’t deliver on precision, production scale, reliability and longevity can be costly to both the company and the specifying engineer.
Innovation for a Variety of Applications
Precision link indexing conveyors are a type of linear transfer system that is used in a wide variety of industries including food processing, packaging, medical and pharmaceuticals manufacturing, aerospace, energy products, defense, consumer goods, electronics and automotive manufacturing.
Medical manufacturing requires precision link conveyors to have high speed and accuracy as well as being clean and maintenance free.
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Enhanced Manufacturing with Speed and Accuracy
Linear Transfer Systems can be customized to your applications, utilizing the highest precision guard rails, rack and pinion system and closed loop motor control system so you can manufacture the best product possible. Manufacturers turn to linear transfer systems for their low profile while minimizing floor footprint, all while maintaining excellent speed and accuracy.
To learn about Linear Transfer System and Robot Transfer Unit systems, applications and design factors, explore our whitepapers and guides below.
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