Product category:
Ballscrews, Linear Guides, Jacks, Dampers
News Release from: HepcoMotion | Subject: MCS and PDU2
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 23 December 2005
Linear drive brings old documents into
focus
Thanks to the incorporation of HepcoMotion linear drive systems the latest generation of the preservation book cradle can now achieve perfect focus quicker.
The preservation book cradle, the brainchild of Alan Buchanan Designs, is now an important piece of equipment in most major UK libraries and indeed also in book collections in USA, Iceland, Sweden, Ireland, Greece and Egypt The machine holds safe books of delicate construction during the process of page digitisation
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 29 Aug 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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This can be a time consuming and exacting exercise but thanks to the incorporation of HepcoMotion linear drive systems the latest generation of this innovative cradle can now achieve perfect focus quicker.
Based in London, Alan Buchanan Designs is a company primarily known for its manufacture of dedicated equipment for the conservation of works of art on paper.
Vacuum and humidifying equipment account for the lion's share of its business.
Further reading
Linear motion based on the vee principle
Bishop-Wisecarver's DualVee Motion Technology (DMT) is based on a double row angular contact bearing arrangement.
Linear bearings resist glass dust
The all-steel slideway on the GV3 is three times stiffer than composite aluminium alternatives and this rugged construction makes it ideal for this type of heavy-duty application.
The preservation book cradle is a natural extension to the range and is proving invaluable in libraries with collections of early works and especially those with folios on parchment.
Two HepcoMotion elements are featured in the latest book cradle design - the MCS aluminium machine building system that provides a framework for the cradle and a PDU2 driven linear slide on which the camera trolley is mounted.
The operation of the cradle depends on the synchronised movement of two platforms as the pages are turned.
This part of the cradle is patented.
Gentle platform movement is critical to ensure stresses are removed from the book's spine.
In earlier designs of the preservation book cradle a rack and pinion drive was used to focus the camera.
This provided adjustment to within 0.5mm leaving the operator to fine-tune the focus on the camera itself.
"The problem is pages very rarely lay flat and this is particularly the case with parchment", Buchanan explains.
"This means that every page may need to be re-focused".
The HepcoMotion PDU2 belt driven linear transmission chosen by Alan Buchanan is able to provide superior positioning accuracy of the camera.
It is driven by stepper motor allowing the camera's focus to be adjusted electronically whilst the operator looks at the monitor.
"Its scope of adjustment is almost infinite", adds Alan Buchanan.
Since its introduction, the PDU2 has proven to be a popular, high performance and cost-effective package.
Its Herculane wheel technology provides a combination of load capacity, speed and low friction that exceeds that of other similar sized units.
The linear drive is of course fully compatible with the HepcoMotion MCS machine building system that forms the cradle frame.
"Although not the cheapest available the MCS system is very easy assemble and looks good, a helpful bonus for this type of equipment", Buchanan concludes. Request a free brochure from HepcoMotion ...
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