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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SILENT GO GETTER
How a uniquely silent cable carrier system
supplies a high speed linear loader
 Silent,
dynamic and reliable – these were the demands on a new Linear
Loader to be developed by the Handling system specialist W.
Strothmann GmbH. Extremely silent linear motors were chosen for
the drive of this loader, the suitable cable drag chain was
found in QUANTUM of KABELSCHLEPP. But why was this product
chosen?
Strothmann develops and produces special machines,
especially handling systems, for more than 25 years now. Companies
such as Gildemeister, Mahle, INA or Miele are among the customers of
the medium-sized company having 90 employees. Strothmann has
agencies in the most important European countries, the USA, Mexico,
Canada and China.
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Picture 1: For the linear loaders of
Strothmann silent linear motors are used together with the wear
resistant QUANTUM cable drag chains |
For the drive of a new, silent linear loader for
the Hanover Fair 2002 (picture 1) linear motors was chosen. The
reasons: On the one hand they need low maintenance as there are no
other wear parts than the mechanical guidance. On the other hand
they can reach high travel speeds of up to 5,5 m/s and accelerations
of up to 20 m/s2. As a countermove constructive problems had to be
solved. For example, the magnetic fields of the horizontal and the
vertical drive must not influence one another. Furthermore a stable
system for the long travel lengths is necessary. A further advantage
of linear drives is the vibration-free operation.
Fast, silent and highly loadable
Such demands must of course also be guaranteed by the cable drag
chain. First challenge: Common cable drag chains cause vibrations
due to its design as the joint links build a polygon and cause the
so-called polygon effect when they are running. Therefore Strothmann
required a highly loadable chain which runs vibration-free. From an
earlier project they were already in contact KABELSCHLEPP, whose
QUANTUM cable drag chain came up to the requested demands (picture
2).
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Picture 2: Since 1951 KABELSCHLEPP develops
cable drag chains for an increased service life of supply lines |
In contrast to common cable drag chains which
consist of joint links of limited pitch, QUANTUM is made from an
extruded plastic material with inside steel ropes. Therefore this
series has no wear causing links. This specialty is responsible for
the extremely smooth run and the high lifetime. The noise emission
remains under 40 db(A). The high lifetime is proved during endurance
tests in the test laboratory of KABELSCHLEPP: A QUANTUM system has
already done more than 25 Mio. strokes, without any failure coming
up.
The lack of links offers new application fields for this design: As
no wear is caused by links and the cable wear is reduced by the use
of Aluminium stays, QUNATUM is suitable for clean room applications
as they are found for example in electronic production works and in
the aviation and space travel industries.
Also the other properties of Quantum meet the demands of Strothmann:
The chain allows operation speeds of 40 meter per second and
accelerations of 30 m/s2. Furthermore, QUANTUM offers a high
resistance against ultraviolet rays and against lubricants and
coolants. Furthermore the chain can be extended later on. So the
investment into Quantum will be protected if the installation should
be extended at a later date. The required longitudinal connector is
also hinged so the smooth run is not disturbed.
Optimum adaptation to all
application conditions
QUANTUM is available in four sizes with bend radii between 60 and
600 mm. Different stay variants allow for optimum adaptation to
every application.
A special characteristic of QUANTUM – its elasticity – opened up a
second application field for this system at Strothmann. A station
for oiling car body sheets had to be developed for an automobile
manufacturer. For maintenance work this station must be moved once a
day into another position, in fact, into two different directions,
displaced by 15 degrees. For doing so Quantum was fixed on centre in
an imagined travel line of 7,5 degrees, but in fact, the station
will be moved by +/-7,5 degrees to it, being possible without any
problems due to the elasticity of the chain.
Tip-off for saving:
Cable drag chains in common design are built from single links.
“Simple” chains always have a pin to hole connection. When during
operation the chain link first turns into the radius and then out of
the radius this results into a movement, which by definition causes
wear. Whenever a chain operates in the so-called “unsupported area”
this wear determines the lifetime. The tolerances in the hinge
increase thus causing a sag of the chain. If this becomes too big,
i.e. the upper chain part nearly touches the floor in its final
position, the chain must be replaced. QUANTUM does not have links
and therefore no link wear can occur. That is why the lifetime is
much higher than in case of common link chains.
The following diagram shows the lifetime of different chain
generations. It can be seen that Quantum is 2,5 to 25 times superior
in comparison to similar sizes and operational conditions.
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The efficiency of QUANTUM is clearly higher
than the „standard“ plastic cable drag chains. This is an
important argument for the increasing demands on the performance
of machines, installations and robots |
One moving cycle is one stroke of the carrier
there and back. This corresponds to four link movements or bends. A
longer lifetime of the cable drag chain is equivalent to decreased
standstill times of the complete installation and the standstill and
repair costs involved.
KabelSchlepp
America, Inc., is located at:
7100 West Marcia Road
Milwaukee, WI 53223-3363 USA.
Phone: (414) 354-1994
Fax: (414) 354-1900
E-mail: info@kabelschlepp.com
Website: http://www.kabelschlepp.com
(KSA-132) |
