Product category:
Ballscrews, Linear Guides, Jacks, Dampers
News Release from: THK UK | Subject: HMG multi-motion guide
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 16 April 2004
Novel production track cuts assembly
time
An all-new and innovative carriage and rail production system can be used by assembly, process and manufacturing companies to reduce costs and increase productivity.
An all-new and innovative carriage and rail production system can be used by assembly, process and manufacturing companies to reduce costs and increase productivity The new system is called the HMG multi-motion guide, and essentially comprises a series of modular track or rail sections with the latest specification THK linear motion guide technology
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 24 Feb 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Linear guide hits 23,000km on single lubrication
The new caged ball SHS LM Guide, which has become a global standard, achieves exceptionally high speed, low noise, maintenance free operation.
Linear actuator covers 100mm to 2700mm
THK has released details of its adaptable GL linear actuator range, designed to provide cost effective linear motion even for high speed applications of up to 3000mm per second.
Track sections are available in a wide range of lengths, widths and straight and curved formats, enabling almost any configuration of production track to be constructed, with single or multiple carriages or blocks being used to move and position workpieces allowing variable capacity.
Unlike traditional production track equipment, the HMG system uses purpose designed linear motion components to ensure that each carriage moves consistently and accurately regardless of the setup of the rail.
This eliminates potential variations in tolerances between different sections of track and ensures a smooth, almost friction-less motion, with positional accuracy of within +/-0.1mm.
Typical track configurations are circular, U-shaped, L-shaped or S-shaped.
In each case, it is possible to make considerable savings in design and construction time and cost.
For example, a conventional rectangular production track typically incorporates a turntable at each corner to re-align pallets or workpieces; using the HMG system the turntable units can be replaced with a simple curved section of track, allowing the linear motion carriages to move in a continuous path.
Similarly, several rails can be mounted in parallel, and heavier loads can be accommodated by using multiple rails or carriages.
The linear motion guides are robust, high performance units and are capable of being loaded in radial, reverse-radial and lateral directions, with a maximum static load rating of 66.7kN on a single carriage.
They are low maintenance and have a long operating life; a range of options including scraper seals is also available.
• THK UK: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
