Slides synchronise vehicle assemblies at 93mm/s

Two 'marriage' slide stations synchronise position of engine, transmission and front and rear suspension units to a vehicle bodyshell and to four assembly robots at 93mm/s.

Gudel high precision component handling and positioning technology is at the heart of two new marriage slide stations that automate the mounting of driveline equipment to car bodies for a leading vehicle manufacturer.

The new units, which are based on Gudel's range of TrackMotion modules and controls, synchronise the position of the engine, transmission and both front and rear suspension units, not only to the vehicle's bodyshell, but to four assembly robots as they move in unison through each assembly station at 93mm/s.

In operation, the front and rear running gear sub-assemblies are located on two track-mounted skillets, which are controlled using high accuracy inverter drives in conjunction with Gudel's advanced rack and pinion positioning equipment.

The four robots used on each line are mounted on two 15 metre long Gudel TM 90 Track Motion slides, and employ a closed loop positioning system linked directly to the Gudel controls to ensure continuous tracking of the assembly components to within +0.1 mm.

Once synchronised, the robots and skillets are maintained in alignment using two shot bolts, while automatic nut runners tighten the threaded fasteners used to secure the complete assembly.

At the end of the 50 second cycle, the shot bolts are retracted and the robots 'rapid back' to their respective start positions, ready for the next vehicle.

According to Gudel UK's joint Managing Director, Gary Ottley: "This application posed a number of important problems.

The fundamental requirement was to maintain pin-point accuracy throughout the process in order to ensure the satisfactory use of robot-controlled nut-runners.

However, there were significant safety and fail-safe operational issues to overcome as well.

Gudel TrackMotion modules are already used throughout the automotive and other continuous process industries.

Their proven reliability, accuracy and repeatability were the building blocks used by our in-house applications engineering team to design a system capable of round-the-clock, maintenance-free operation for many years to come.

Feed back from our customer confirms that we were selected on the strength of our past track records of supplying 'fit and forget' systems; backed by the ability to provide world-wide after-sales service and support." "We are delighted to have won this contract in the face of some fierce international competition," adds Ottley.

"It has paved the way for discussions to custom-engineer systems for several other automotive and aerospace applications.

I am therefore confident of building on this initial success with further new orders in the near future." About Gudel UK - a member of the Swiss-based Guedel engineering group, Gudel UK develops and supplies modular-based solutions for positioning components weighing from a few grams to several tonnes with extreme accuracy and repeatability.

Systems are typically used for high volume metal working, assembly or manufacturing applications - in particular within the automotive, aerospace, pharmaceutical, food packaging, defence, machine tool, electronics and process sectors.

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