In focus – a modular high-speed gantry system

At EMO, the Steinmeyer Group will present its competencies from components to assemblies using a compact high-speed gantry. In Hall 7 at Booth D38, the companies August Steinmeyer, Feinmess Suhl and Steinmeyer Mechatronik will show an ideal solution for high-precision high-speed positioning tasks in automation and individual, modular, scalable machine concepts.

The trade fair gantry from the Steinmeyer Group sets standards in terms of performance, dynamics, precision in the submicrometer range and adaptability. It covers numerous applications in automation – such as pick & place, placement, assembly, milling, measuring, 3D printing, pipetting, semiconductor inspection, PCB assembly or wafer probing. The individual and modular design allows high flexibility by easy exchange of assemblies such as customized process heads and wear components during setup or maintenance. The quick-change interface also reduces downtime and costs.

Highly dynamic drive concept with ball screw drive

The gantry consists of two synchronously moving axes, a crossbeam with two vertical axes for parallel machining. The highly dynamic linear motors ensure maximum production throughput. High-precision, ground ball screws from August Steinmeyer with accuracies up to ISO tolerance class 1 are installed in the Z axes. Surface finishing and optimized lubricant life ensure a long service life - customer-specific tests and extensive documentation guarantee high product quality. The components are also available in special designs for use in clean rooms, vacuum, as well as in dry nitrogen atmospheres or in the pharmaceutical or food sector. In addition to materials and lubrication, the pitch and load ratings can also be adapted to individual requirements for accuracy, load cycle and speed.

Lens system for focusing

A sliding screw drive from Feinmess Suhl consisting of a spindle with rolled M2 thread and a plastic nut is installed in the lens adjustment unit. The spindle is directly connected to the motor and allows a production-adjustable axial play of 1µm up to 10 µm. Depending on the application and operating environment, various thread pitches, profiles and diameters, nut designs and materials, and high-precision ground, whirled or rolled spindle designs are possible. This opens up a wide range of applications from the optical industry to medical technology, laser technology and mechanical engineering.

Safety at high speeds

The overall system from Steinmeyer Mechatronik can be controlled via integrated motion control. In cooperative operation, laser sensors ensure that the gantry is switched from high accelerations and speeds to a "safe speed mode" as soon as a person is in the safety area. Enclosure of the work area can therefore be dispensed with and the monitored safety area freely defined. Consequently, the system can be used either as a stand-alone machine or also as a bayable cell of a complete plant.