FIBROMAT Heavy-load positioning table

Especially for car body assembly applications in the automobile industry, rotary table specialist FIBRO has developed a modular heavy-load positioning table that positions large and heavy parts or equipment quickly and precisely.

The maintenance-free FIBROMAT, which is lubricated for life, is driven by spur gear toothing and equipped with pneumatic indexing upon request. In contrast to conventional positioning tables with a cylinder cam, the gearbox of the FIBROMAT is not self-inhibiting so that the force is not transferred to the cam in case of a sudden power failure or emergency stop. Damage to the mechanical system of the rotary table is thus not possible. In addition, the table does not swing open during positioning, even with superstructures on the table top.

Due to the modular concept, users and designers have an absolutely free hand in the selection of the motor. Without a motor, the rotary table can be driven by hand or by robot. When equipped with a drive, the positioning table covers about 80 percent of all possible applications. With two parallel drives, shorter switching times can be realised or the control response of large loads can be optimised. The number of motors also affects the emergency stop times. At a table top speed of 8 rpm and moment of inertia of 16,000 kgm² with one drive, 1.6 s pass until standstill occurs; with two drives, the stopping time is lowered to an extremely short 0.8 s. The drives are placed in such a way that they can be removed downwards with minimum effort and without dismantling the connection structure.

Pictures (Top): With its versatile possibilities, the modular heavy-load positioning table FIBROMAT is precisely tailored to the requirements of car body assembly. (Below): FIBROMAT AT.1000 in use in car body assembly in the automobile industry.

In the basic version, the rotary table is equipped with an asynchronous servo gear motor with a preconfigured drive converter. All other common motor types of the known manufacturers can be used just as well. FIBROMAT can thus be synchronised as an additional axis on a robot using synchronous servo motors and actuated using the same set of commands as for the robot. In the standard version, the positioning table has a large, centre borehole especially for robot-supported applications.

The bearing of the rotary table also has a modular design. Instead of the standard roller bearing of the basic version, a rigidity-optimised cross roller bearing is used that can take up particularly high tilting moments in the axial and radial direction. Upon desire, the FIBROMAT is available with indexing units up to Division 20. The indexing accuracy then lies at +/- 30 angle seconds and the repeat accuracy at 15 angle seconds. Alternatively, any position can be freely taught and tensioned using the motor brake without play by software with a master-slave drive.

The extensive module programme of FIBROMAT comprises media distributors, collector ring transfers, and absolute measuring systems. The torque can be increased using an additional drive. Since the FIBROMAT has an extremely flat construction, it can be either sunk into the floor or placed at an ergonomical height using a machine stand. Special connecting dimensions and customer-specific drilling templates can be implemented quickly and affordably. To protect against welding beads, FIBRO has also covered all seals. In the standard version, the heavy-load positioning table is available in three sizes, with table top diameters of 1,000 mm, 1,250 mm, and 1,600 mm. At size 1,000, superstructures up to a diameter of 6,000 mm and transport loads up to 12 t are possible. The consistent modular design guarantees short delivery times. For further information, e-mail: t.schauder@fibro.de

Ex RF BF 80 series: Self-sufficient control devices for explosion protection

The control devices in the Steute Ex RF BF 80 series, that have been designed for use in explosive zones, are now also wireless and self-sufficient.

In order to assemble these control and command devices, the enclosure merely has to be affixed to the wall or machine. No power or signal cables are needed because signals are transmitted by radio. The switching device generates the required energy all by itself. Or more accurately: the user generates the energy all by himself when he actuates the switch. A miniaturised electrodynamic energy transformer mounted on the switch plunger transforms kinetic energy to electrical energy and a signal is sent to the receiver unit by radio.

This wireless technology has long been tried and tested in both industrial applications and building automation, and has now begun to assert itself in the field of explosion protection. The steute »Energy Harvesting« technology has been approved by the appropriate authorities - with the result that the command devices in our Ex RF BF 80 series are certified for use in gas-Ex zones 1 and 2, as well as dust-Ex zones 21 and 22, in accordance with the ATEX guidelines. The plastic enclosure of our new command devices is very robust. Variants for one, two and three control elements are available, with users being able to choose from among a wide range of pushbuttons, mushroom pushbuttons, selector and key switches. The wireless protocol guarantees a high degree of transmission safety over distances of up to 30 m (indoors) or 200 m (outdoors). Several »Wireless Ex« systems can be operated within one transmission area; the exact assignation of command device to receiver unit is performed in a few simple steps during the teach-in
process.

Like all steute switching devices, the Ex RF BF 80 series is extremely durable. The switching insert with its electrodynamic energy generator has been developed especially for rough industrial applications, achieving a mechanical lifetime of over one million switching cycles. At the SPS/IPC/DRIVES exhibition, steute will also be presenting other self-sufficient switching devices. And our range of Ex-switchgear has also been expanded - e.g. to include a new series of position switches for universal use.

For further information, e-mail: info-uk@steute.com or view website: www.steute.co.uk  Refer to page 308 

Seminars from Arnold Umformtechnik

With Fastener Forum - a series of seminars on industrial topics focussing on joint technology - Arnold is extending its range of services and offering professional information exchange at a high level.

Fastener Forum is part of the Expertise Centre concept that Arnold has been building up over several years. The aim of this concept is to offer customers not only high-quality products, but also a comprehensive package of services in areas including e-engineering, standardisation and technical cleanliness. Fastener Forum embodies Arnold´s efforts to address the rising demand for technical training and knowledge transfer. It is where design and development engineers, as well as employees in engineering purchasing departments, obtain important information and food for thought on innovative fastening systems and their development, design and application.

The speakers are experts in fastener engineering and related areas, including materials engineering, surface treatment and processing technology. This ensures that the presentations have a strong practical orientation. The seminars are classified into three categories by subject matter: metal joining, plastics joining and sheet metal joining. This creates a comprehensive perspective of the individual topics, which is supported by a diverse combination of interesting presentations and informative displays from key players.

This approach encourages interaction between the participants and the speakers, thereby offering extensive opportunities for continuous learning at the professional, methodological and personal levels.

For further information, view website: www.arnold-uk.com or e-mail: michael.pult@arnold-umformtechnik.de  Refer to page 143   

Smart Switch Functionality for RadioLinx®
Industrial Frequency Hopping Ethernet Radios

RadioLinx Smart Switch intelligent routing technology enables true peer-to-peer wireless Ethernet communication. When coupled with the Industrial Frequency Hopping Ethernet´s 1.1 Mbps data rate capabilities, the Smart Switch radios from ProSoft Technology provide best-in-class performance for any application.

ProSoft Technology®, a leading global (worldwide) industrial communications provider, is pleased to announce the new Smart Switch feature, supported in its RadioLinx® Industrial Frequency Hopping Ethernet Radios for the 2.4 GHz spectrum (900 MHz as well for applications in North America).

With Smart Switch technology, the Ethernet radios are able to intelligently route packets over the network, managing the wireless network and creating true peer-to-peer wireless Ethernet communication. The powerful, rugged Industrial Ethernet radios provide long-range wireless connectivity (up to 7+ km in Europe, up to 30+ miles in North America) with 1.1 Mbps data rates. When coupled with the efficient Smart Switch feature, this solution provides industrial, process and SCADA users with reliable ´any-node-to-any-node´ communication with best-in-class performance, including faster scan times, faster upload/downloads, and faster PING times.

Industries that rely on robust and long range performance of frequency hopping wireless technologies now get the added benefit of true network connectivity. Smart Switch enables the SCADA network to behave like a true Ethernet network boosting system performance.

An additional unique feature of the Industrial Frequency Hopping Ethernet radios is a serial port that can be used to pull data from a serial device and send to a client via wireless Ethernet.

For further information, e-mail: mktg.emea@prosoft-technology.com or  view website: www.prosoft-technology.com  Refer to page 140