OPENING UP THE SCOPE OF PARALLEL MOTION

Now thanks to the development by HepcoMotion® of a new Floating Bearing with Vee- profile, this function can be achieved in tandem with the entire HepcoMotion® flagship, GV3 and PRT precision ring track ranges. This gives the designer tremendous scope. HepcoMotion® Vee slides, ring and tracks are available in an exceptionally wide range of formats and sizes and with the ready availability of standard carriage plates, lubricators and other co-operating parts.

So, for the majority of parallel systems an off-the-shelf solution is now available and one that is not subject to ‘special’ prices and long lead times. “We expect our floating bearings to be particularly popular in conjunction with ring and track applications,” explained Technical Director Peter Fanshawe. “It is in these situations where flat track and roller solutions are not available as standard and are not so easy to engineer.”

In providing axial movement (float) to compensate for parallelism between the opposing Vee’s, the HepcoMotion® Floating Bearings reduce the potential of additional loading and help to maintain a consistent running quality. They are available in three basic sizes to work in harmony with the GV3 and PRT ranges.

They may be specified in two stud lengths covering most thicknesses of carriage or mounting plate, the short stud version being compatible with HepcoMotion® carriage plates. Both versions are available in three different types.

The concentric type is fixed, providing a datum for the system and the eccentric and double eccentric types enable system adjustment. The latter has sufficient stroke to permit disengagement of a ring encircled by bearings. To allow for high speed and lifetime lubrication all versions feature caged needle roller bearings. And to protect them against the ingress of debris they have nitrile seals.

Peter Fanshawe concludes, “Our new Floating Bearings provide the perfect technical answer for specific applications within the framework of our standard range. They enhance the breadth and depth of our product programme and demonstrate our continued commitment to offering an optimum solution to even the most complicated motion problems.”