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[August 2006]
Precision Ring Track System Puts Cost Efficient Shine on Ceramics
HepcoMotion® (Tiverton, Devon, England) reports that until last year the design that formed the basis of a Lippert special purpose interior glazing machine for sanitaryware resembled a Ferris wheel and although relatively efficient it was unacceptably costly to build. A substantial order for several of these units prompted a re-think and the company’s chief designer Martin Hutzler was charged with the responsibility of building a glazing machine that was compact, simple to operate and above all commercially viable.As the final design called for the products to move firstly in a linear plane and then into an arc, a linear motion system was sought that not only provided this design flexibility but was also able to meet tough technical specifications. As the glazing solution is corrosive, the system had to be corrosion resistant. Also, as well as providing a high order of positioning accuracy, it needed to be thoroughly reliable and immune from the ingress of the abrasive fluid. For Lippert the answer was provided by a HepcoMotion® PRT Precision Ring Track and Slide system.
For over 50 years Lippert has been building special purpose machines for the ceramic industry. It principally serves the tableware, sanitaryware and engineering ceramics sectors. The glazing machine for toilet bowls and wash basins is just one of a broad range of equipment it produces. The old design of this particular machine required the purpose-built manufacture of the arc-shaped segment in-house. "Sourcing an alternative from HepcoMotion® provided a ready-made solution that is not only more accurate but also less expensive," Martin Hutzler confirmed.
The two HepcoMotion® PRT linear sections specified by Lippert are each 600mm wide and the arc-segment, 799mm with an angle of 90°; its carriage is belt-driven by a geared motor. PRT ring segments and slides are available in four widths from 12mm to 76mm in diameters from 93mm to 1,033mm; straight lengths are available in one piece up to 4,020mm. Special diameters and individual segments are manufactured on request.
Compared to re-circulating systems, the HepcoMotion® V-principle offered Lippert many practical advantages. The bearings are manufactured from highly durable carbon steel and are easily adjusted to be play-free. As a result they run quietly and with low friction. The system’s specially designed carriage conveys the nozzle of the hose containing the glazing solution to the point of delivery at a speed of 200mm/s. "Although the process isn’t quick, smoothness of operation and positioning accuracy is important as we don’t want to waste the fluid," Martin Hutzler continued.
The V-shaped slide runs within the V-profile of the bearing providing a constant wiping action, effectively self-cleaning the track. This is a major advantage in the process such as ceramic glazing as both the slide and bearings are kept clean whether or not the system is lubricated. As Martin Hutzler concludes: "Even in our harsh manufacturing environment the HepcoMotion® PRT system remains largely maintenance free. We've certainly chosen the right product for the job."
www.hepcomotion.com
ENDS