Cambridgeshire based TTP Labtech has developed a machine that
considerably speeds the testing process for new drugs. it comprises two
parts: a storage and retrieval unit called 'comPOUND', and a test
specimen preparation unit called 'comPILER'. Both incorporate motion
control technology provided by Lenze.
The comPOUND machine is essentially a stack of 26 carousels, each holding
around 3,800 phials or tubes containing the chemical compounds for test -
about 100,000 tubes in total, all contained within a nitrogen environment
at -20°C. Two Lenze servomotors with precision bevel gearheads rotate the
carousels about a central axis via a double-sided toothed belt, with
Lenze pole face clutches connecting the drive shaft to each of the
carousels. A Lenze spring-applied brake provides the holding torque to
keep the carousel in its driven position.
The PC controlled comPOUND communicates with the drives via CANbus using
I/O and controllers developed by TTP Labtech. Tubes are identified from a
database and addressed as if they were on a computer hard disk. The
clutch on the corresponding carousel is engaged and the brake released,
followed by an indexing action by the servo system to move the required
tube to the retrieval position.
An accuracy of better than two arc minutes is achieved, and any tube can
be retrieved in under four seconds. Tubes are then delivered to the
comPILER X-Y table, a tiny quantity of the chemical is removed and the
tube is returned to its original location. Up to 12 comPOUND machines can
be networked to form a library of 1.2 million chemical compounds.