September 2020

There aremany factors to consider when designing a production cell or system; one of these key decisions is which drive systemto use. Independently controlled movers offer flexibility, freedomof choice and the ability to customise. On the other hand, mechanically linked carriages offer stability, security and durability. Each decision has its consequences and it is important to carefully consider which option is better in the long term. Similarly, a design engineermaywonder which format best suits his production cell: linked or freemoving? Specifically, it is amatter of choosing between linear motor driven systems andmechanically linked systems. HepcoMotion has been producing and supplying high quality linear guide components and systems for over 50 years, and offers solutions for both methods of drive. High performance linked systems such as the Driven Track System (DTS) are one of its core products, and more recently HepcoMotion’s GFX guidance system for Beckhoff XTS, one of the leading linear drive manufacturers, is proving to be a much sought-after product. With product offerings for both drive systems, HepcoMotion often discusses with customers which solution is best for their needs. Three advantages of linear motors Systems driven using linear motors offer three benefits: flexibility, speed and precision. A common goal is to be faster, more flexible and often more precise, but whether the investment is worthwhile ultimately depends on whether these features are just ‘nice to have’or actually deliver quantifiable advantages in a production cell. Before making a decision on the type of system required, the following must be assessed: what should the new system aim to achieve – more precision, higher speed or more flexibility? The main distinction between systems with linked carriages and those with independently controllable movers is, of course, flexibility. With linear motor systems, production is not limited by the slowest process. Processes with varying throughput times can be linked seamlessly. This optimisation significantly increases production efficiency and, where necessary, previously separate production processes can be integrated into a single cell. This can negate the need for multiple systems in a production cell, in turn reducing cell footprint. Additionally, in a systemwith individually controllable movers, programming can easily be adapted to accommodate additional work steps or a change of product. This is an incredibly important feature in the ever changing production environment because there are constant changes in many areas of manufacturing. Comparatively, there is no COVER STORY A fixed carriage system such as DTS offers a reliable, low maintenance solution which is less sensitive to dirt, moisture and extremes of temperature. Linear motor systems offer complete flexibility. In this application individual carriage movement is used to grip bottles for a sorting application, allowing a system output of 200 bottles per minute.