Servo slides multiply their reach

Simple geometry based on two servo motor driven slides gives exceptional performance to a pick and place machine. One slide moves the top end of the pick and place arm vertically, while a second moves a sliding pivot point laterally. The vertical movement of the first slide is translated into effective arm length reach by its movement through the pivot point. The sideways movement is translated into lateral positioning. The overall effect is to multiply arm reach in a completely scalable manner, according to arm length. The machine is described by makers, Quin Systems, as an 'Rtheta Product Handling System.' The two slides are driven by SBC Servo brushless motors through toothed belts. In the configuration demonstrated at Southern Manufacturing it was performing pick and place operations on items on a rotating table beneath it, within an envelope approximately twice as large as could be achieved by a conventional system. Despite its conceptual simplicity, the arm's low inertial mass allows it to perform 120 cycles/minute with a repeatability better than 0.5mm. The system is pre-programmed and simply requires the arm movements and end-effector timings to be defined by the end user using an electroluminescent touch screen. Path definitions are shown graphically. The machine's small footprint - about 1m across - enables major savings in the capital cost of new production lines. The head can accept pneumatic grippers, vacuum suckers or electromagnet end effectors. The machine can be used to operate stand alone, or as part of a networked control system. As well as pick and place it can be configured to perform operations such as case erection or palletising. The emergency stop circuit employs a Pilz safety relay. The system may be integrated into external machine safety and guard circuits. Mechanical protection is provided by over travel switches on both axes together with a collision compliant head. The concept is suitable for any 2D positioning operation and is protected by patent applications. Other new developments from Quin include a 'Qmanager' able to synchronise automated systems with up to 240 axes. Using SERVOnet to link to intelligent drives and motor controller, it both organises and communicates, configuring all drives and controls on the network from a single central program, then monitoring and interacting with them while the machine is running. For those requiring even higher performances than are available using Rtheta, the company also offers LinMot linear servomotors with acceleration to 250m/s2, stroke range to 1460mm, peak force to 200N and repeatability to 0.01mm. Quin Systems Pointers * Rtheta can perform 240 movements (120 cycles) per minute. * It has a small footprint and is completely scalable * Repeatability is better than 0.5mm