To achieve progress with systems integration you need the expertise and experience of specialists. Specialists from the fields of electronics, electrics, mechanics and systems technology work hand in hand towards success. This integration of development, production and service ensures resources are utilised efficiently to achieve maximum cost-effectiveness. The specialists at Micromech and Parker combine technological innovation with state of the-art automation concepts in an effective manner to create robust, practical solutions to automation problems.
The consistent policy of pursuing system based concepts enables us to deliver a comprehensive range of cost-effective, standardised automation solutions. Linear and gantry robots, stock palleting units and handling systems for high-bay shelving are examples of just some of these solutions.
It goes almost without saying that our automation specialists develop and manufacture special purpose solutions. Maximum flexibility with low cost is achieved by integrating standardised electronic and mechanical components from the extensive range of system modules.
There can be confidence in the systems-based philosophy when conceiving and implementing successful automation systems. Numerous satisfied users are convinced of the performance capability of Micromech and Parker’s modern automation solutions. They are to be found in the food production and pharmaceutical industries, automotive engineering, construction materials and prefabrication as well as in the fields of mechanical engineering and the plastics industry.
Components – Concepts – Systems
Modules for greater cost-effectiveness
Components developed and produced at Parker form the basis of eminently practical concepts and systems for automation purposes where the basic module is an aluminium linear actuator. To achieve high dynamic performance and load characteristics, there are belt, rack and screw drive options. The benefits of these automation systems are particularly convincing when moving heavy loads at high speeds over extended distances.
An extensive range of servomotors with fully digital servo control delivers the necessary performance to our equipment. Real-time capable bus systems link servo amplifiers and control units making possible very short cycle times even for time-critical processes. Industrial computers acting as Man-Machine-Interfaces provide clear text dialogues, offering maximum convenience in programming and for the operation of complex automation systems
To achieve comprehensive data communication with higher level controllers and PLC systems, a tried-and-tested bus system is employed which is fully compatible with the most commonly used IT standards which uses standardised interfaces to ensure that all components comply with the partnership‘s system-based philosophy. This makes them flexible and cost-effective to use in conjunction with an extremely wide range of systems and user-specific automation equipment.
Productivity – the systematic approach
Standardised gantry robots
Linear gantries – the ideal way of loading and unloading machines, conveyor belts and pallets, they combine the highest standards of cost-effectiveness with seamless automation.
Standardised gantries arranged around a production area form the key to comprehensive automation of the material flow to production equipment, transport and packaging equipment.
Since they are able to move into any position within the working area, it is also possible to integrate measuring and testing stations. Their cost-effective design delivers economical solutions to automation problems and depending on the requirements, the gantry robots can use standard grippers or specially developed grippers for defined tasks.
This enables them to grip anything from the proverbial egg and flexible rubber or plastic parts to robust, heavy steel components in a totally reliable manner. Decades of experience in dealing with the widest imaginable variety of work pieces and materials enables the customer to develop the optimum gripper for each handling function.
This is especially important when dealing with applications that have complex material flow operations; careful coordination is therefore vital. To utilise gantry robots in a cost-effective manner, programming them must be a quick and easy task. Digital servo controllers and industrial computers serve as operating and programming terminals and are all integral components of the overall concept. Users benefit from turnkey equipment, which can be installed rapidly and put into service without delay and assure you of productivity and reliability from day one.
Efficient solutions
Palletising robots made to measure
Speed and flexibility are naturally the most important factors in a palletising operation but short throughput times at high travel and positioning speeds can be achieved using palletising robots. Flexibility primarily demands an open control system, which offers clear text dialogues, making it easy to programme for various tasks.
An industrial computer acts as a Man-Machine-Interface where a graphical display of the approaching palletising samples on a screen allows for easy and comfortable programming. The sequential programmes are generated and monitored automatically by the integrated, fully digital servo control unit. To provide reliable transport for pallets, packaging and work-pieces made from every conceivable material in a wide range of shapes; the palletising systems are equipped with application-specific grippers. If various tasks need to be handled in an automatic sequence, gripper changeover systems give short re-tooling times and ensure maximum flexibility.
Stock control at the touch of a button
Shelf-picking units
Any modern inventory management system capable of coping efficiently with stock movement needs to have good quality high-bay stock handling equipment. Nowadays cost-effective, automated high bay stock handling systems are able to deal with a broad range of tasks and require very little intervention by human operators. Here are a few examples: retrieving small parts to make up an order, moving raw semi-finished materials into and out of stock, perhaps via buffer stock areas located beside production, and storing documentation and other data in archives.
In order to achieve rapid stock transfer, high-bay stock handling equipment must be able to cover extended distances at high speeds and at a high dynamic. The Parker high-bay stock handling systems meet these requirements, and are equipped with belt or rack drive units powered by high-performance servo motors and fully digital servo controllers. Telescopic or push/_pull-type lifting systems are able to move a tremendously wide variety of units into and out of stock. Integrated PC control units enable goods moving into and out of stock in the automated high bay storage areas to be monitored and documented reliably and since they run under the Windows operating system, they have no problem in being incorporated into standard computer networks (e.g. Novell via Ethernet). This capability enables them to exchange data with supervisory host systems, demonstrating the outstanding benefits of a systems-based philosophy. The ‘highbay’ stock handling equipment has the in-house material flow situation firmly under control.
Open and closed-loop control
Automation systems
There is virtually no limit to the number of ways in which mechanical and electronic components can be combined to create customer-specific automation systems. A perfectly matched, modular and high-performance range of components allows the equipment to be employed in every major industrial sector.
This enables the development of high-performance industrial plotters, able to function over large surface areas, for example when cutting film, applying sealants and adhesives, milling grooves, marking out, plotting and scribing metal sheets and wooden panels. The user friendly, PC-assisted programming interface provides a solution for every contouring problem. Reflecting in a mirror axis, rotating, enlarging, reducing, spline interpolation, DXF file transfer – using these features, you can work quickly and simply on just about every concept.
Micromech is Parker’s motion partner and can offer a bespoke solution to meet all of your motion control needs, for more information contact Alan Spinks on 01376 333333 or alan@micromech.co.uk
‘Micromech Systems and Parker are forces in motion’
Designed for today’s 24/7 production demands, the MX45 series has redefined ‘high-throughput automation’ in the world of miniature positioners. Typical areas of application for the stages are research, fibre optics, photonics, electronics and biomedical processes.
The leadscrew drive employs a PTFE-coated screw with a preloaded nut to deliver extremely smooth and quiet linear motion. A choice of two leadscrews allows the user to match the desired mix of velocity and resolution, in order to best match the application’s requirements.
were available at Diamond’s site Micromech Systems engineers worked with DLS engineers to validate and commission the IDs ready for integration within the main synchrotron ring building.
Whether the motor application is near a wet area or is required to be exposed to high-pressure washdown, the Kollmorgen family of servomotors provides a correct fit for a specific application. Customers can select from the robust line-up of AKM™, including the exclusive AKM™ washdown, AKM™ food grade models and stainless steel W series – all with a proven track record for dependable, superior functionality and high-performance.
For the latest in technology of speed control and positioning products, Yaskawa are probably the best in the world
