Feature

Accurate and stable actuator for an automatic screwdriving application

Accuracy, repeatability and stability were the key performance requirements specified for an actuator to be used in an automatic screwdriving application for AVK Plastics, a manufacturer of synthetic surface boxes and pallets based in the Netherlands. AVK Plastics turned to HepcoMotion after the previous actuator could not provide the high stability required, causing the company to need a replacement.

01/12/2021 10:46:56

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A central part of the system, the actuator is responsible for moving an automatic screwdriver horizontally in order to fix 3 x screws (spaced 300mm apart) into a pallet. Precision and repeatability are key here, as the
screwdriver needs to be precisely aligned to fasten the screws into the screw holes. In addition, the unit needs to offer high stability, due to the precision and accuracy required.

Mr Hylke Vlieg, Technical Service Engineer from AVK
Plastics, explains: “With the previous actuator we used, there was play on the car in no time, which did not improve accuracy.” After 14 months, it broke down and, after research, AVK Plastics replaced it with HepcoMotion’s SBD
belt-driven actuator, which was able to meet the technical requirements.

Based on ball rail technology, SBD carriages are pre-loaded to eliminate play and deliver high rigidity for precision applications such as this. As AVK Plastics experienced with the
previous system, any movement in the carriage plate affects the accuracy of the screwdriver, making the process obsolete. The resistance to movement provided by Hepco’s SBD was therefore of utmost importance for AVK Plastics.

Read the full article in DPA's December issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.