Precision mini slides with pneumatic or electric actuation

According to Festo, both series provide exceptionally fast and accurate positioning capabilities; all DGSL series pneumatic slides have a repetition accuracy of +/-10 microns, while all EGSL series electric slides have a repetition accuracy of +/-15 microns. The slides are suitable for applications demanding short and precise moves, and their low profile and mounting flexibility (they can be 'piggybacked' and mounted in any orientation, including vertically) makes them useful where space is limited. Principally intended for use in handling and assembly automation, both types of slides are likely to prove popular in the food processing and packaging industries, as well as in semiconductor processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Options for the pneumatic slides

Festo's DGSL series pneumatic slides are available with a choice of eight different sizes, from 4 to 25, and nine different stroke lengths - from 10mm to 200mm - depending on the model. The slides are double-acting, with the larger models capable of advancing and retracting at speeds as high as 0.8m/s. The size 25 slide can produce up to 483N of force when fed from a nominal 6bar compressed air supply.

All DGSL series slides use an innovative piston technology that incorporates the guide tape and sealing element, together with an embedded magnet for position sensing purposes, in a single compact component. This results in less friction and air leakage, leading to steady and smooth movement, better speed constancy, and a long working life. The slides also all offer a choice of three types of end-position cushioning - hydraulic, elastomer and adjustable elastomer - which can be set up very easily from one side of the unit's body.

Options for the electric slides

The EGSL series electric slides offer users a choice of four different sizes, from 35 to 75, and five different stroke lengths, from 50mm to 300mm, depending on the model. The slides' exceptional rigidity means that they can easily tolerate bending moments; two slides can simply be bolted together to form a cantilever axis, and all their surfaces feature centring rings to remove shear loads from the mounting bolts. The size 75 slide can accommodate a horizontal load of up to 14kg, and can generate up to 450N of thrust.

All EGSL slides are capable of accelerating at up to 25m/s2 and can achieve speeds as high as 1.3m/s. To help put these figures in context, this typically means that a 200mm EGSL-45 slide with a 6kg payload can accomplish a complete positioning sequence in under 250ms! The slides' ball screw spindle is completely enclosed, rendering it impervious to contamination, and three of the four models offer a choice of spindle pitches. The ball screw features an integral magnet, enabling inductive sensors or reed switches mounted on the outside of the slide's body to be used for position sensing purposes.

EGSL electric slides are fully compatible with Festo's range of stepper and servo motors and controllers, and can also be used with third-party motors; Festo also produces a comprehensive range of motor mounting flanges and couplings, as well as slide mounting plates, axial mounting kits, optional cover kits and steel sensor flags for these slides.

Festo has also developed a powerful PC-based software tool, backed by native CAD models, to help machine designers and others make best use of electric drive technology such as the EGSL slides. This software can be downloaded free of charge from www.festo.com/cms/en-gb_gb/index.htm. Or follow the links for more information about the DGSL series pneumatic slides and EGSL series electric slides