September 2021

Which guide system? Once the question of drive type has been addressed, focus shifts to the type of guidance required. The decision will depend primarily on design, environment of use and payload. Will straight, curved or multi-axis motion be required? HepcoMotion can offer guidance products for any of these motion types, across a wide range of payload requirements. In principle, every motion type can be offered with our without drive. For example, the GV3 product can be offered with single, or double- edged slides and racks so that a pinion-driven carriage can be mounted to them. For linear motion, HepcoMotion’s high quality GV3 product impresses with its large range of configurable components, allowing maximum compatibility and the ability to tailor to customer requirements. Additionally, slides can be butt joined to create lengths longer than the standard supply. For applications where standard, prefabricated slide lengths & carriages can be accommodated, Simple Select is a good choice. Delivery of this ready-made product is rapid and carriages are shipped assembled to slides to facilitate a quick installation. For an application that includes curved motion, either as a combination of straights or rotary motion, PRT2 will be the right choice. In addition to accuracy and type of drive, environmental conditions are the second key aspect in product selection. Applications in food and pharmaceutical industries often demand stainless steel components. HepcoMotion’s SL2 product range is the stainless steel equivalent to the extensive GV3 linear guide system. Many other Hepco ranges are also available with stainless steel options. In some situations, corrosion resistance is of importance. Specialised components are required for extremes of temperature and vacuum environments; Hepco can provide products to meet these needs. Our vacuum and extreme temperatures are often used in the manufacture of semiconductors, production of LCD and OLED screens and in vacuum chambers and are suitable for temperatures ranging from -50°C to +210°C. In many cases, dust and dirt are common features of production environments. This can cause issues in traditional recirculating ball products, where the raceways are exposed to dirt and dust and can experience premature wear and failure. This is not the case for Hepco’s V-guide systems. The design of the V- bearings is such that the internal structure of the bearing is shielded from dirt and dust particles. The V-guide system has a unique wiping action that tends to expel debris at the interface between bearing and slide. In this way, the slide system is unaffected by ambient conditions and life is not limited. Most of Hepco’s guide systems are based on this V technology and are ideally suited to use in harsh environments with high levels or dirt and debris. Payload The final element to consider when specifying a product is payload. For weights of up to approximately 400kg our GV3 linear system (or PRT2 for curved/rotary motion) is recommended. For larger payloads, up to approximately 68kN, our heavy duty guide systems (HDS2 for linear and HDRT for curved/rotary) are a better solution. Both systems are based on V-guide technology and available with stainless steel components. The MHD system is designed specifically for moving large payloads and uses bearing blocks fitted with roller bearings to do this. MHD roller bearings are sealed and lubricated for life internally to preserve the life of the internal recirculating balls and taper rollers. MHD tracks comprise hardened and ground flat track, which is available with or without an integrated rack profile, allowing a pinion to be mounted to a carriage plate to drive the system. The MHD roller bearings are able to compensate for misalignment saving design and assembly time. Whatever the requirement, HepcoMotion’s systems offer versatility across a large range of applications. Systems can be purchased in component form – this modular approach gives the designer a high level of flexibility when specifying a system. Additionally, the V- guide technology is capable of extremely long service life; should play develop in a system, bearings can be adjusted to reset the carriage, removing the need to replace the whole slide system and carriages (common with traditional recirculating ball products). By checking the details of your application and carefully specifying products, our Technical Sales team will ensure the life and service requirements of your system can be met. The drive and guidance systems form the heart of any production cell. Choosing the correct system is extremely important. To ensure the correct specification of products for an application, various parameters must be considered and balanced. This requires a clear idea of the goals of a project, trust in the quality of components and their ability to perform. GV3 product impresses with its large range of configurable components, allowing maximum compatibility and the ability to tailor to customer requirements Heavy duty track systems can be configured into gantry systems and are available with V bearings and roller bearing to suit the application needs