Key applications for Multi Axis Electric Motion Solutions

Linear and multi axis electric motion solutions* complement traditional pneumatic-driven options for the movement, placement, and positioning of components as part of an automated response.

The growth in electric motion is set against a background of heightened application complexity. Demand for cost-efficient, but customised products is growing, while requirements for data insight and system connectivity influenced by Industry 4.0, is intensifying.

Inherently configurable and flexible, multi axis electric motion systems are utilised across industrial sectors such as material handling, packaging, food production, chemical processing, and pharmaceuticals.

With its wide spectrum of potential solutions, multi axis electric motion has the flexibility to satisfy the often-disparate needs of individual applications, whether as part of an OEM machine build project, or enhancing the efficiencies and output of a busy production line. For this reason, it is important to correctly identify and specify electric motion solutions based on specific objectives and decide upon a standard or more customised response according to the application requirements. When compared with industrial robots, multi axis electric motion systems offer several application benefits that can help with appropriate specification choice. They include:

Moving heavy loads

General purpose industrial robots often carry a limited load compared to equivalent multi axis systems because they carry the load on an outstretched arm. For machining centres that lift loads above 100 kilograms, this can be an issue. Multi axis electric motion systems offer the capability to move larger and heavier loads over longer distances.

Orientation / mounting position of the system

If the application only requires movement in a few axes, multi axis electric motion solutions with small frames can be mounted overhead and out of the way, making the best use of tight installation spaces. At the same time, the system can be equipped with additional components such as grippers or rotary modules to obtain more axes of motion and meet the requirements of the application.

Dynamics

An important consideration for pick-and-place applications is acceleration times over long distances. Multi axis electric motion solutions can accelerate at 5 m/s or more, rivalling the performance of SCARA and six-axis robots. They are also useful for long-span applications where systems can be converted and extended to 20m lengths.

Accuracy and precision

End users can upgrade industrial robots to achieve a myriad of accuracy levels by changing the actuator. Spindle driven axes provide positional accuracies of 0.02mm, but if lower accuracies of 0.2mm are acceptable, users can save costs by changing to a toothed belt driven axis. For some applications, a pneumatic solution may provide the best value solution.

Precision is key in high-end applications such as machine tools. For applications where SCARA and six-axis robot arms cannot maintain accuracy due to arm deflection, it is worth considering a multi axis electric motion solution with high-precision linear bearings.Norgren’s recently expanded range of multi axis electric motion solutions can help meet automation application requirements. For more information, please click here.

*Multi axis systems, alternatively referred to as cartesian robots or TTT Robots refer to mechanical movement systems normally operating across 2 (xy) or 3 (xyz) axes.