Bend-Tech relies on Thomson linear actuator assemblies for consistent and accurate motion control on its plasma cutting, marking, and engraving systems.
五年前，当威斯康星州公司专业从事数控管和管道切割机，管道和管道弯曲系统时，注意到现场服务呼叫中的尖峰，他们很快就找到了这个问题的根源。事实证明，越野越来越受到的越野和其他户外赛车的普及促进了对金属管和管道制造的需求。因此，Bend-Tech团队从汤姆森行业寻求混合线性运动技术以进行解决方案。
“我们的系统使金属制造商能够以极高的速度和准确性削减管道和管道，”TJ Merry，Bend-Tech的生产经理说。“这通过将传统的外包服务带入内部，提高了生产能力，最终将其底线。”越来越多地对室外型摩托车的自定义车辆的兴趣导致对制造管道和管道的稳定需求。
The majority of Bend-Tech’s business is in two markets, both of which have been experiencing significant growth. Many of their customers are manufacturers that create custom handrails for industrial and public buildings and are driven by construction and increased attention to public safety. However, their largest growth opportunity is with shops that modify vehicles such as rock crawlers, racers, and Jeeps for off-road motorsports.
With engineering from Thomson, Bend-Tech developed the Dragon A250 to help meet increasing market demand.
在其初始市场进入后，证明这不是对大批量生产的需求，他们建造了较大的龙A400等离子体切割，标记和雕刻系统，这些系统几乎所有被抛出的东西都抛弃了，但呈现了另一个挑战：虽然较大的客户很受欢迎，但一些客户很难在龙A250的价格的大约三倍的价格上进行成本合理。
“我们所需要的是什么，”快乐说。“我们知道我们需要的价格，基本上必须在没有危害生产质量的情况下使我们的机器建设成本降低。”
Bend-Tech Dragons have three main components: a structural frame, a cutting and marking toolhead, and a software-guided actuation system that controls tool movement. After deciding to eliminate some functions from the new systems they were developing, cost-cutting attention turned to the linear motion systems.
汤森定制用于弯曲技术的汤森集成了步进电机驱动的电动导通螺钉，进入了先前的滚珠丝杠驱动的线性载玻片。汤姆森以横向的形成将螺栓悬挂在一起，以移动等离子体切割割炬和连接到右侧红色板的另一侧的标记工具。
The Thomson solution integrated a smaller, simpler version of the system it had designed for the A400 actuation system but with a completely different drive mechanism. Each A400 uses two Thomson 2DB series linear slides bolted together in a cross configuration to control A and Z axes. One positions the toolhead on the horizontal plane, while the other moves the cutting, marking, and engraving tools up and down on a vertical axis. Driving each axis is a 2-ft ball screw powered by a stepper motor. The long length of the screw requires support bearings on both ends and a special coupling to the stepper.
For the new Dragon A250, Thomson started with a shorter shaft, an 11-in. lead screw with a 6-in. drive, which eliminated the need for support at both ends. This meant they could specify a motorized lead screw (MLS) that does not need to be supported on both ends because the bearings within the motor support the load. And because the lead screw and the MLS rotor are one, there is no longer a need for external coupling of the screw to the rotor.
“汤森德西gned the components on this is really slick,” said Merry. “They get the cost down by keeping components to a minimum. Using a motor with an integrated lead screw instead of a ball screw cuts the cost of coupling screw and motor together and all the support hardware that goes along with that.”
The lower-cost motion control assembly that Thomson customized for Bend-Tech integrated a stepper-motor driven motorized lead screw into previously ball-screw driven linear slide. The Thomson slides bolt together in a cross-like formation to move the plasma cutting torch and marking tools attached to the other side of the red plate on the right.
The new motion control assembly is smaller than the system used on the A400, but it looks very similar with round rails, bearing, blocks, and a carriage. Merry said the fact that the new system looked exactly like a smaller version of the previous system was also a selling point for him because it provided continuity.
In operation, the actuation system connects to a Windows PC that hosts the CAD/CAM software that stores design parameters such as lengths, bend angles, rotations, and material characteristics for each customer. The motion control system receives that information and follows the preprogrammed sequence, enabling the tool to switch from plasma cutting or part marking automatically. For both the A400 and the A250, all cuts and markings must be within a +/- 0.010” tolerance.
Dragon A250的CAD / CAM软件预编程设计参数，指导汤姆森线性运动组件，控制系统的运动并实现高可重复性。
Dragon A250的CAD / CAM软件预编程设计参数，指导汤姆森线性运动组件，控制系统的运动并实现高可重复性。
执行这种高精度是建立零点的位置传感器，并记录与其的任何变化。在A400中，传感器延伸到致动器组件的一侧。所有接线都容纳在挤出的铝柄状结构中，该结构从组件的一端跑到另一端。在A250设计中，Thomson将所有极限切换到系统电子设备，将袋加入到末端块中，并在传感器可以拧入该孔中。以这种方式支持精度要求，无需外部固定装置进一步降低了系统的成本。
传感器provide the A250 with high repeatability, accuracy, and reliability while reducing the cost of the system by eliminating the need to hang a sensor fixture off the side of the actuation assembly.
还有助于称为“点亮”可靠性的快乐预先装载了ACME螺纹螺母。工厂对齐滚珠丝杠和复合聚合物螺母的播放远低于原始滚珠丝杠组件，它使用标准模塑螺母。
当天弯曲技术宣布龙A250的可用性，他们销售了四种系统，并以来的需求稳定。
Filed Under:Linear motion • slides
