Linear motors put novel digital printers in motion
A
Rockwell Automation product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jan 5, 2006
The Spyder system, a new generation of digital printers where only the print head moves rather than the print bed, is the latest result of collaboration between Anorad and Inca Digital Printers.
The Spyder system, a new generation of digital printers where only the print head moves rather than the print bed, is the latest result of collaboration between Anorad, the linear motion division of the Rockwell Automation Group, and Inca Digital Printers.
In developing the new machines, Inca's engineers faced the challenge of eliminating vibration associated with the rapid movement of the print head, which would adversely affect print quality.
With 16 print heads, each with 256 nozzles, this could have been a major problem.
For this reason, the use of conventional motors was ruled out, and Anorad, which had been involved from the early stages of the project, proposed a solution based linear servomotors, as they provide excellent acceleration and high precision.
The resulting Spyder system travels at speeds up to 2.0m/s while printing, and up to 2.5m/s on the return stroke, with an incredible 2g acceleration.
The accuracy of the system is such that it can print at 1000dot/in, and it has a capacity of 50m2 per hour.
The gantry y-axes are driven by an Anorad LC iron core motor, and the scanning x-axis is driven by an Anorad LEB ironless linear motor.
The z-axis, which moves the vacuum bed and substrate in a vertical plane, has a unique linkage system special developed by Anorad.
To eliminate vibration, the main printing axis is equipped with air-bearings.
As these are noncontact devices, their use also reduces maintenance requirements.
The iron-core linear motor used on the y-axis offers repeatable and extremely dynamic step/index moves, with a peak actuation force up to 4657N.
Its elegant two-part construction features a three-phase laminated coil and a single-sided track consisting of rare-earth magnets mounted on a rigid steel base plate.
Motors of this type virtually eliminate the friction, inertia, backlash and wear associated with rotary-to-linear drive mechanisms.
The x-axis epoxy-core linear motor also uses two-piece construction, with a three-phase ironless coil and a balanced dual-sided U-shaped magnet channel.
The ironless design eliminates cogging (magnetic detent) and allows extremely consistent velocity and positional control in scanning-type applications.
The Spyder prints onto rigid and flexible materials, such as corrugated board, solid board and canvas up to 30mm thick, and is suitable for the production of high volume point-of-sale materials.
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