Space Saving Linear Drive Design
March, 2006
The addition of an extra bearing in Amacoil/Uhing model RG3 linear drives doubles side thrust capacity without significantly increasing the length of the drive. For example, an RG3-30 drive provides 60 pounds of axial thrust and has a 150 mm (6 in.) long housing. The 4-bearing option (RG4-30) delivers 120 pounds of thrust, yet the housing is only is only 30 mm (0.5 in.) longer than that of the RG3 drive. For sizes RG3-40 and larger the 3- and 4-bearing drive housings have identical dimensions.
Production personnel and designers faced with limited space and high thrust requirements will find the RG4 drives are a space saving solution. Additionally, increasing thrust with the 4-bearing option is a less expensive alternative than buying a larger size drive - both from a cost standpoint and because no additional design time is required to accommodate a larger envelope.
All nine sizes of Amacoil/Uhing RG3 drives are available in the RG4 style. The drives are used in machinery requiring a reciprocating motion component such as scanning equipment, winding machines, spraying assemblies, converting and packaging equipment and in other automated machinery. The RG drive automatically reverses travel direction at the end of each stroke independently of motors or controls which simplifies set-up, operation and maintenance. Depending on the size of the drive, Amacoil/Uhing linear drives provide up to 800 lbs. of axial thrust with travel speeds of up to 13 ft./second.
Contact Name: Bob Eisele
Title: Technical information services
E-mail: beisele@amacoil.com
