Offenburg – The online and offline worlds are growing ever closer together. The linear technology specialist HIWIN has reacted to this challenge by relaunching its company website. In addition to the personal consultation customers are familiar with, the HIWIN online portal now acts as an additional source of support, from the initial idea right through to the finished product.

Thanks to the revamped web design, the site provides a whole new user experience. On the one hand users can select the product they’re after quickly and easily, and on the other adapt it to their individual needs in advance using the configurator. For more complex matters, the new calculation tool lends a helping hand and automatically identifies the suitable product solution based on customer-specific application data. Alongside extensive engineering documentation, assembly instructions, technical data sheets and CAD models are available to download around the clock in all common exchange formats.

Registered users enjoy an additional benefit: Items can either be ordered directly or saved in their personal customer area. Here, specific information on pricing and delivery times can be viewed. What’s more, individual projects and orders can be conveniently stored and managed with great simplicity. “A modern way of accessing modern products. Drive technology has never been more enjoyable!” (Werner Mäurer, Managing Director).

Seventh axis extends the range and increases efficiency in production

HIWIN – The Offenburg-based supplier for linear drive technology is paving new paths for robot users. The working radius can now be expanded quickly and easily with a seventh axis from the HX modular building block system.

Jointed-arm robots can be used in a wide range of applications thanks to their kinematic properties. By combining them with a seventh axis from the HIWIN linear axis family, their areas of use are greatly multiplied. Two or more machines running in parallel can be handled at the same time. Use in interlinked machines is also possible. The robot can unload a station, move linearly between parts of the plant, and transfer the workpiece to the next station. If the workpieces are located on a conveyor belt, the robot can process them on the fly. 

The seventh axis should be just as versatile as the robot and its range of applications.
The HX linear axis family therefore offers the ideal solution with its modular building block system: tailored to your application, different sizes and drive types as well as the free selection of the working stroke in mm increments ensure unlimited performance of the robot. 
On the HIWIN online portal at www.hiwin.de, you will find the right axis in next to no time: simply enter your required dimensions in the design tool and subsequently adjust the axis to your individual needs using the CAD configurator.  The CAD data will then be available to download straight away. 
HIWIN performs when it comes to the delivery time too because your axis will be ready to dispatch from Offenburg after just a few days. 

HIWIN’s seventh axis for robots: not only a plus, but also a multiplier for versatility and functionality.
 

ThermProTEC manufactures equipment for the production of more lightweight tubular stabilisers for a leading German automotive supplier. The key task of each piece of this highly automated equipment is not only to thermally treat the pre-bent tubing blank, but also to glue on the rubber bearings and assure quality. Robots from HIWIN ensure the flexibility required at central points during the production of these sophisticated suspension components.

Stabilisers play an important role in a vehicle’s suspension system, as they prevent the vehicle from swaying on a bend or uneven road surface. They therefore contribute significantly to the comfort of modern vehicles. In the past, these stabilisers were exclusively formed from all-metal bars in a cold or hot process. What are referred to as tubular stabilisers are now becoming more and more popular due to the fact that they weigh up to 40 per cent less. 

However, tubular stabilisers call for entirely different thermal production methods compared to all-metal stabilisers. ThermProTEC, a specialist in thermal process technologies, has developed the ideal method for this and has successfully broken into the market with it.

“Our in-depth understanding of thermal processes opens the door for us, even to companies that are much bigger than ourselves,” explains Dr. Rainer Gaus, founder and Chief Executive Officer of ThermProTEC GmbH based in Offenburg. “Here, like in other markets in which we are active, such as tempering equipment for heavy mining chains or gear racks, clients are increasingly requesting that, alongside the actual thermal treatment, we cover as many of the production steps required in the respective application as possible with our equipment.”

This entails end-to-end automation including necessary measurements for quality assurance as well as the handling of workpieces.

In this context, ThermProTEC has been increasingly implementing robots in its equipment for some years now in order to feed or withdraw heavy components. When it comes to the stabiliser production equipment, numerous robots also come into play. Robots from HIWIN have been involved in this from the very start. 

A robot instead of a gantry system

“We have a large number of HIWIN linear guideways installed in our equipment and have experienced very positive results with them over the years,” says Gaus. “I therefore followed HIWIN’s plans to develop its own robots with a great deal of interest and ordered three of the RA605-710-SL model for test purposes as soon as these were available. I already had our stabiliser production equipment in mind as a potential area of application.” 

Once the compact 6-axis robots had been successfully tested, the design engineers at ThermProTEC suggested using a robot with a 5 kg load capacity in a Pick&Place application conventionally solved with a gantry system. By means of a dual gripper, the robot picks up a clamp and a counter-piece from an infeed belt and places them in the two receptacles of a pressing station. The station then presses the clamp pieces onto a rubber bearing previously glued on by the equipment. 

Flexibility cuts costs in terms of construction and tools 

Thanks to the flexibility of the robot, the equipment can process different clamp designs without any problems, which isn’t the case with a gantry system. A 2D smart camera of the Inspector PIM 60 model detects the type and orientation of the clamp fed in by a conveyer belt and forwards this information in XML format to the HIWIN robot control system via Profinet. The robot learns the different gripping positions depending on the clamp type via teach-in. 

“Despite the higher entry price compared to a gantry system, the customer opted for the robot solution as a result of its flexibility,” reveals Gaus. “In the long term though, robots are less expensive for us, especially if the production of variants is to be possible or product changes are to be expected.” Whereas, for example, an extra tool has to be produced for every new product when using a gantry system, usually only a few standard grippers are enough to handle a whole product portfolio when using a robot. What’s more, the construction effort is generally lower with a robot solution in contrast to conventionally arranged Pick&Place systems because the latter have to be individually adapted to the equipment and task each time. ThermProTEC also chose not to have the clamps taken directly out of a provided crate by the robot. “Depending on its implementation, this concept would have required at least one 3D camera or an additional sensor and would have therefore simply not been worth it. We decided to place the clamp on the infeed belt using a magnet. That is much more cost-effective and reliable,” according to the CEO of ThermProTEC.

All-in-one control system

HIWIN robots also offer users added investment security and plannable costs. When users purchase the modular RCA605 robot control system developed in collaboration with KEBA, they get access not only to comprehensive hardware comprising an integrated safety controller, a configurable real-time Ethernet interface, a sequence controller (PLC) and extendable I/Os, but also to wide-ranging function libraries.
 
As a result, functions for palletisation or conveyer belt tracking, for example, do not have to be licensed or paid for separately. They can be used without additional costs when upgrading or converting equipment. A scope analysis software program is also supplied as standard for optimising movement sequences.
 
Programming is carried out in a consistent engineering environment for PLC, motion and robotics. 

Wide range of applications through high repeat accuracy

The robot proved its worth in the first piece of delivered equipment, leading ThermProTEC to expand the area of application of HIWIN robots. In the second piece of equipment realised by the company and delivered at the end of 2018, two of these little helpers place clamps in a pressing station. Another RA605-710-SL additionally works in a measuring cell. In this application too, the robot cooperates with a 2D smart camera of the Inspector PIM 60 model. However, this time the camera is mounted on the flange of the robot. A distance sensor is also located here. The trio allows the stabiliser to be measured in 3D at nine positions within 15 seconds.

The RA605-710-SL has the best prerequisites, even for tasks of this kind: Alongside the simple handling of small parts, its high repeat accuracy of +/-0.02 mm also makes it suitable for applications such as assembly, deburring and polishing or even for quality assurance, as Gaus confirms: “Owing to the high repeat accuracy, we were able to achieve absolute overall measuring accuracy of 0.05 mm with the measuring cell.”

Outlook: more HIWIN robots 

In light of all this, the HIWIN robot has performed impressively in this application too, and the CEO is therefore already considering other ways in which it could be used, such as for placing rubber blanks in mould cavities, which has been carried out manually up to now. “We have to take each day and each application as it comes though and weigh up whether a robot solution ultimately makes economic sense. But in general, we will certainly be installing even more HIWIN robots in our equipment in future,” proclaims Gaus with optimism. 

Offenburg – HIWIN is expanding its range of drive technology. The HM linear modules with a square cross-sectional area and the HT linear tables with an integrated double guide – for applications with high torque loads – have now been joined by the cantilever axis from the HC series. This axis has been specially developed for use in vertical applications, and combines tried-and-tested quality, high power density and precision with an outstanding design.

The HC cantilever axis is equipped with an Omega toothed belt, which is integrated into the drive block in order to save space. With this axis, the drive block with the motor and gearing remains stationary and it is the lightweight cantilever that moves. Thanks to the sophisticated structure of the aluminium profile, the cantilever features high torsional rigidity despite its low weight and is therefore suitable for dynamic applications.

The use of high-quality HIWIN linear guideways inside the axis enables the compact linear axes to achieve high power density and outstanding performance.

With a whole host of individual configuration options available even in the standard version – including a pneumatic clamping element, limit switch, distance measuring system or drive adaptation for all standard motors, plus free selection of the stroke in millimetre increments – the HC cantilever axis is a true all-rounder. The product can be configured in just a few clicks using HIWIN's user-friendly configurator at www.hiwin.de.

Design engineers tasked with designing and developing robots, rotary tables, machine tools and many other types of automation system come up against the same challenge time and time again: the need for a rigid precision bearing in the tightest of spaces.

HIWIN has come up with the ideal solution in the form of its CRB series of crossed roller bearings.

The crossed arrangement of the rollers at an angle of 90° means that the bearings are able to absorb not only axial forces from both directions but also radial forces and tilting moment loads, as well as any load combinations they might be exposed to.

The secret behind the bearing's load capacity is hidden deep inside it. Thanks to their specific geometry, the spacers located between the rollers save a great deal of space, enabling more rolling elements to be packed into the bearing compared with similar models. The special design of the spacers also minimises the points of contact with the rollers and, as a result, friction losses.

The advantages over angular ball bearings or bearings with two bearing positions are obvious: HIWIN crossed roller bearings are much more compact and can therefore be installed in the tightest of spaces. They also score highly where rigidity is concerned. The linear contact of the rolling elements makes the crossed roller bearings three times more rigid than conventional ball bearings.

HIWIN offers its crossed roller bearings in five different models, two preload classes, three accuracy classes and with or without an optional seal – providing the perfect match for any application.

Offenburg – The precision delivered by HIWIN's LMX linear motor axes and their long service lives have established them as a popular choice among manufacturers. Now, the Offenburg-based specialist in linear technology is setting the bar higher than ever before in bringing its new generation of LMX axes to the market, with even more powerful motors and a more compact axis structure.

These axes represent the second generation of the equipment and use a new type of motor technology with a higher force density. This has made it possible to reduce the height of the system by some 40 % compared with the previous generation, allowing users to take advantage of more compact structures for their machines and pack more functions into the same amount of installation space.

All of the key components in the system are produced by HIWIN in-house, and this has given the manufacturer freedom to introduce new production processes and boost the mechanical precision of the axes even further.

The positioning measuring system and its sensors have been relocated to the protected axis interior, making the system more resilient as a whole. This also means that the axis can last up to 50 million cycles before requiring maintenance, if the operating conditions allow it.

With all these features, the second generation of LMX axes is continuing to set new standards in straightness, flatness and precision. It is the perfect choice for even the most demanding positioning applications, such as 3D measurement systems, laser processing machines or semiconductor production facilities.

The new linear motor axes are available now.

Offenburg - Two and more axes can now be combined quickly and easily with HIWIN adapters to form cross tables and multi-axis systems...

Offenburg – Linear movements involving ballscrews can now be com­pleted even faster and more dynamically than ever thanks to the new flanged single nuts from HIWIN's DEB-N series. The Offen­burg-­based electro­mechanical drive technology specialist has achieved these great advances by overhauling its successful DEB series. A key feature of the DEB-N product family is an innovative ball guideway which allows the load to be distributed to a larger number of balls, significantly increasing the resilience and service life of the ballscrew. A ballscrew featuring these new flanged single nuts can last up to twice as long as the previous generation – yet not a single change has been made to their external geometries. At the same time, HIWIN's engineers were able to improve running performance with the new ball guideway, enabling the nuts to run much more quietly and increasing the maximum permissible speed.

Every detail of the new nuts has been carefully considered: as the wipers can be replaced, design engineers can tailor the ballscrews to the environmental conditions of their application. NBR wipers are included as standard. The material is highly resistant to oils, greases and hydrocarbons, and its low rate of wear enables it to achieve a long service life. Alterna­tively, felt wipers or additional finger wipers are available as an option.

As a result, the new DEB-N nuts are suitable for universal use and are ideal for conveying and positioning tasks in the plant and mechanical engineering sectors, as well as in transport and logistic systems, to name but a few examples. They are also particularly suited to applications which require highly precise, dynamic and reliable linear movements.

Ballscrews with the new flanged single nuts are now available from HIWIN and, on request, can be produced with machined ends and matching bearing units.