Linear motion system automates bonding

Having used the HepcoMotion GV3 linear motion system for similar applications in the past Finishing Design Services (FDS) were confident in GV3's reliability to meet their needs.

Having used the HepcoMotion GV3 linear motion system for similar applications in the past Finishing Design Services (FDS) were confident in GV3's reliability to meet the needs of a project that demanded no manual intervention.

The fully automated machine in question is for bonding insulation board to plasterboard using a 2K gluing system.

"We required a heavy duty linear guide that could handle the dusty environment," explained FDS engineer, Matthew Hudson.

"And to minimise spare-parts storage we wanted to use just one type of linear guide throughout the machine.

GV3 ably met both requirements." Special purpose machine builders, Finishing Design Services, have a broad customer base supplying machines to most industries and in particular into the bakery, automotive and construction sectors.

Its philosophy is to subcontract as little as possible hence its in-house disciplines include every aspect of machine building from project management, design and manufacture to panel building, installation and commissioning.

This translates into providing its customers with a more economic machine within a shorter time frame.

The automated bonding machine for which the GV3 systems were specified comprises two in-feed conveyors to handle virgin boards, one out-feed conveyor to discharge the finished product and three pallet handling conveyors to feed the line.

Above each conveyor a vacuum pick-and-place system operates to position boards accurately onto the main conveyor.

This conveyor moves the board through the glue application stand and into a pre-heated oven before it is presented to the jigging station.

In this station the top board is picked, jigged, and placed onto the pre-glued bottom board.

Once bonded the two boards are conveyed through a belt press before being transferred to the finished-work pallet.

The HepcoMotion flagship GV3 system is responsible for linear guidance in several of these processes.

In addition to moving the product alignment guides and guiding the expanding conveyors that traverse the product through the spray stand, GV3 is also responsible for ensuring smooth and accurate movement of the glue spraying applicator across the board.

The same type of GV3 system is also used as a linear guide in both the vertical and horizontal servo axes on the pick-and-place systems.

To ensure operational efficiency in the dusty environment all of the GV3 linear guides are equipped with cap seals to prevent any ingress of plasterboard dust from the sliding surface whilst providing positive lubrication to extend system life.

On the machine the GV3 systems are taking loads in excess of 220 kg and moving them at typical speeds of 1.6m/sec with acceleration/deceleration rates of 10m/S2.

"As we needed a number of linear guideways to complete this machine we wanted a product that was both competitively priced and robust enough to do the job effectively and reliably," Matthew Hudson concluded.

"GV3 has proved its ability before and we had no hesitation in using it again.

In addition to the GV3 systems HepcoMotion also supplied elements from its Winkel range for this project.

These components are ideal for heavy-duty applications that have very high radial and axial loads.

Fully assembled handling systems with a range of drives systems and suitable for loads up to 50 tonnes can be specified and it is for this high capacity that FDS chose Winkel components for use in its pallet stacking stations.

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