Complete freedom in 2D bearing track design from HepcoMotion

The entire track element of HepcoMotion 1-Trak is manufactured from a single piece of steel, which can include a base plate. Such is its strength and accuracy, it can be used as a key structural element of the machine.

The product can be customised with holes, slots and other features eliminating the time and cost involved in designing a separate mounting plate for the track system and supplied mounted to a HepcoMotion MCS frame as the basis for complete automation system.

As there are no joints; HepcoMotion 1-Trak systems are completely seamless and free running with no possibility of misalignment during installation or in service.  Smoother, quieter motion is also achieved.

Three-bearing carriage
In addition to facilitating a high degree of flexibility in track configuration, the novel HepcoMotion three-bearing geometry combined with the track shape ensures that the carriages exhibit zero play everywhere on the circuit. This is a key benefit compared to other tracks where there is ‘lift off’ of the carriage from the track between straight and curved sections.

1-Trak circuits can accommodate much tighter bends than is possible with other systems.  This saves space and costs, allowing the manufacturer to optimise production layout. The three-bearing carriages also provide a simple, low cost alternative to bogie carriages that are the common choice when the system includes both right and left hand bends.

Where the application involves higher moment loads the 1-Trak is also available in a wide track section.  Wide slide sections with widely spaced bearings both across and along the carriage can also be supplied to create a very rigid platform and increased moment load capacity. 

Track systems can be specified with a vee profile guide section of any size to suit bearings from the extensive HepcoMotion PRT2 or Heavy Duty HDS2 ranges from 13mm to 150mm in diameter. Carriages can carry loads from 67 to 51,000 N, and tracks can be made up to 5.5 x 1m or 1.9m square. 1-Trak also includes corrosion resistant versions as standard.

High Strength Gear Drive
A rack and pinion driven carriage is another standard 1-Trak option. Its novel design permits a correct and constant mesh between pinion and rack around the entire circuit.  It eliminates the need for the pinion to be sprung against the rack to compensate for varying engagement.  This hugely simplifies the carriage design, reduces cost and dramatically increases system driving forces.

The gear teeth on the track are precision machined and surface hardened to provide outstanding strength and durability.  Gears are available from MOD 1.5 to MOD 10 and beyond, depending on application requirements.  The system designer can specify pinions alone, a carriage complete with pinion and drive flange or with pinions mounted onto a gearbox geared motor.

Also within the new product range is 1-Trak with a rectangular flat track profile and track roller carriages.  This option is recommended for use when two track systems are mounted in parallel. It allows the roller bearings on one side to ‘float’ axially whilst the other side is fixed and captivated by the vee bearings. This type of configuration compensates for parallelism tolerances, and completely eliminates the excessive loading and binding that can occur.