HepcoMotion’s new Heavy Duty Slide (HDS) system, the HDS2 has been upgraded to address the needs of materials handling applications that involve much larger X-Z gantry systems. HDS2 retains the best features of its forerunner, though HepcoMotion describes it as a technically superior product to the original Heavy Duty.
Specific components are now available within the range to reduce the engineering time required to get a system up and running. These components include larger bearings with increased load capacity, three sizes of construction beam, single edge V slides and flat tracks as well as a range of drive options. All this, with an option for stainless steel or corrosion resistant components as standard enables HDS2 to satisfy most high load application needs.
The system can be supplied in component form or as a ready-mounted assembly, complete with rack driven carriages. Customers can also choose from low cost commercial slides (general use) or high-precision ground slides for applications that demand superior accuracy and greater smoothness of motion.
Slides and tracks are available in single piece construction up to 4m long, in single or double edge format, both as V-slides or flat track. The V-slides have a simple alignment facility to achieve parallelism and the flat tracks overcome the need to align two slides exactly parallel. Greater driving forces for heavier loads are achieved through a range of spur or helical rack and pinion options. In line with the new larger slides, the HDS2 programme includes a larger aluminium beam, the HB33, which has four times the stiffness of the existing HB25 unit.
There is also now a bigger range of bearing sizes to choose from; new introductions include a 150mm diameter vee bearing and a 144mm diameter roller incorporating high-capacity taper bearings. The maximum bearing capacity is now 50k - a substantial increase on the previous 20kN. All bearing options are available in stainless steel and offered in removable format so, in the unlikely event of bearing failure, they can be replaced without having to remove the carriage from the system.
In addition to providing higher load capacity the double row bearings are exceptionally tolerant of debris. Low friction cap wipers expel dirt in harsh environments and provide automatic lubrication to provide a long service life. Lubricators also offer an alternative method of lubrication and can be applied to both bearings and slides. They will be a lower cost option where conditions are not hostile.