Linear motion systems increase energy efficiency

Modern linear motion systems and components from Rexroth can help users to increase the energy efficiency of their applications.

In horizontal movements, friction is said to be one of the most important factors when determining the energy needed to drive an axis.

For applications in environments with low contamination levels, low-friction seals can significantly reduce the drive power requirement.

Compared with standard seals, they reduce the friction between the runner block and the profiled rail by up to 50 per cent, according to the company.

About 10 million ball runner blocks are manufactured around the world every year.

If just half of these were equipped with low-friction seals, users could save up to 230GWh of electricity per year with the Size 25 runner blocks alone.

This corresponds to the annual electricity demand of a city with a population of 200,000.

Besides friction, the weight of the components themselves is another factor in the drive power equation, particularly in vertical axes.

The hybrid design of the lightweight components and modules of the Eline series from Rexroth combines a wrought aluminium alloy for the body with hardened anti-friction bearing steel for the running tracks and balls, which reduces the overall weight of profiled rail systems by about 60 per cent.

The Eline compact modules or the VKK feed modules from Rexroth are suitable for use in handling applications as vertical axes or actuators.

With their low moving system mass, they reduce the required drive power while providing precise and stepless positioning.

In 2009, Rexroth plans to further expand its portfolio of miniaturised linear motion products.

With a more compact design and lower weight, these products are intended to offer higher performance for less energy input.

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