Festo launches compact gantry system for precision positioning
Festo has launched the EXCM Mini H Handler, which it claims is the world's first production, off-the-shelf handling gantry to feature kinematic technology.
The new H Handler systems are designed to reduce lifetime costs while offering faster throughput, improved energy efficiency and reduced downtime.
Festo says their parallel kinematic system is more energy efficient than traditional Cartesian positioning systems, in which one motor must transport the weight of the other.
Instead, two motors act directly on the load via a common recirculating tooth belt. By sharing the load in this way, the robotics can achieve higher dynamics, and EXCM realises positioning speeds of up to 0.5m/s with less cost, energy usage and vibration.
The Mini H Handler's closed-loop servo controller can drive the end effector quickly and accurately to any X-Y co-ordinate position.
The Handlers start from A4 size with a good ratio of working area to total footprint. Installation height is also minimised as both motors lie in the same plane. The devices are particularly suited to desktop applications, such as those found in electronics, light assembly and medlab.
