Stober supplies compact drives for depowdering system

When automated depowdering equipment manufacturer, Solukon, needed space-saving and robust drive components for its range of depowdering systems, it turned to motion control equipment specialist Stober.

When printed parts are produced using the selective laser mounting process they are full of powder, the removal of which was previously carried out manually by shaking, tapping or suctioning. Solukon wanted to automate the process of depowdering metal parts manufactured using 3D printing technology, as in complex components that have a labyrinth of channels, removing the power can more easily be done using an automated system.

The Solukon SFM-AT350, a two-axis swivel system designed to produce medium sized parts integrates Stober’s Lean bevel geared motors, and its extremely compact Lean planetary geared motor, which solved Solukon’s space and reliability issues. Also, as the encoderless Lean motor series is an inexpensive and rugged alternative to synchronous servo motors, this was an added benefit for the manufacturer.

Solukon’s depowdering systems are based on its ‘Smart Powder Recuperation’ (SPR) technology, where the powder is made flowable by automated swivelling around two axes and systematic vibration excitation. Launched in 2021, the SFM-AT350 is one of Solukon’s latest depowdering system developments. As the system’s turntable can rotate endlessly and the horizontal axis can simultaneously move up to 250 degrees, even complex rotation patterns can be easily programmed. Users benefit from time savings of up to 90 percent compared to manual cleaning processes.

Compact drives for a compact machine

Solukon’s co-founder, Andreas Hartmann explains: “The SFM-AT350 features a particularly low chamber volume and a compact design. This was a major concern for us in order to keep the inerting time and required amount of inert gas as low as possible. To achieve a compact design, we needed particularly space-saving drive solutions during development, both for the endless rotation of the turntable on which the component is mounted and for the horizontally moving swivel arm.”

Udo Cyrol, head of Stober’s south-east sales centre, continues: “Previously, Solokon used servo drives in the depowdering systems, but in order to build even more compactly without losing performance, we recommended our sensorless Lean gear motor.”

The advantages are that a high-precision planetary gear unit and a first-class helical bevel gear unit, combined with an energy-efficient, encoderless and rugged Lean motor are particularly efficient for precisely fitting, compact machine concepts. In addition, the motors have up to 96 percent efficiency qualify for energy efficiency class IE5, which means that Solukon is already at a level of technology that will not to be expanded for several years.

Removing the need for an encoder

With the Stober Lean geared motor, speed and torque can be controlled infinitely from a zero position to maximum speed with full torque control, and it operates completely without sensor elements.

This also means that only a single-shielded standard power cable is required as it reduces installation effort considerably. Lean geared motors are also well-suited to automation tasks that involve rotation and vibration, as is Solukon’s depowdering system.

 

The encoderless concept of the Lean motor contributes to its high durability. Despite the absence of an encoder in the motor, the speed deviation is less than one percent, and the positioning accuracy is ± 1°. Since there is no encoder, the Lean geared motor series is particularly suitable for dynamic automation tasks.

Efficient double-axis drive controller

The Lean geared motors at Solukon can be controlled with Stober’s SC6, a 45mm wide drive controller with integrated power supply. The machine manufacturer uses this as a double-axis controller with a nominal output current of up to 2 x 19 amps. The compact stand-alone device is ideal for drive-based applications with up to four axes.

For functional safety, Stober developed the SU6 safety module, which is optionally available for the drive controllers. This offers the manufacturer an economically attractive solution for STO and SS1 safety functions via the PROFIsafe safety protocol.

The SC6 is predestined for use in safety-instrumented systems up to SIL 3, PL e, category 4. Designers can, for example, implement an emergency stop in accordance with EN 13850 – or avoid an unexpected start-up in accordance with EN 14118. The functionality of the controller’s communication interface is also Profinet certified.

“The highly dynamic drive controller operates quietly and reliably in the background, even during demanding movements”, explained Cyrol.

An extremely satisfied Andreas Hartmann says: “Stober provided us with excellent support during the development of the 2-axis swivel system. With the components installed, we succeeded in creating an extremely compact footprint with strong performance. And with the low-backlash geared motors, we were also able to improve the tracing of the tracks and created better transitions during the tilting movements. This makes the SFM-AT350 a highly functional workhorse.”

According to Solukon, the processes downstream of 3D printing, such as depowdering, must be increasingly standardised and to do this do this, it is necessary to be able to handle ever higher numbers of pieces. “Our solutions meet the highest functionality and safety standards and are approved for the efficient, reliable removal of difficult-to-handle and reactive materials such as titanium and aluminium,” Hartmann said.

STOBER Drives Ltd

Centrix House
Upper Keys Business Village, Keys Park Road
Hednesford
Cannock
WS12 2HA
UNITED KINGDOM

+44 (0)1543 458 858

sales@stober.co.uk

https://www.stober.com

More news
16 hours ago
Spring budget presents mixed bag for UK industry
The Chancellor’s spring budget presents a mixed bag for UK industry, says Mark Yeeles, VP for industrial automation at Schneider Electric in the UK and Ireland, commenting: “While the full expensing measures are a good step towards encouraging the investment that is vital for our sector to become more efficient and productive, the imminent end to energy cost support presents an existential threat to many businesses in our sector.”
3 days ago
William G Search wins Atlas Copco Compressors’ Distributor of the Year Award
Honouring William G Search with the Distributor of the Year Award, Ariel Rubinstein, general manager at Atlas Copco Compressors, said: “At Atlas Copco, we want to recognise and celebrate partners who contribute towards our overall growth.
3 days ago
CMZ and NSK celebrate over 25 years of technology collaboration
World-renowned Spanish lathe manufacturer CMZ is lauding more than 25 years of high-level technological collaboration with linear motion and bearing specialist NSK. The company’s machines incorporate NSK innovations that include ground ball screws, linear guides and super-precision bearings.
4 days ago
Ensuring regulatory compliance for razor blade assembly machine
When consulting services company Laicon identified the need to appoint a European Authorised Representative (EUAR) in compliance with EU Regulation 2019/1020 for a razor blade assembly machine project, it turned to Hold Tech Files.
4 days ago
Delta Electronics recognised as Top 100 Global Innovator 2023 by Clarivate
Delta has been honoured for the second consecutive year as one of the Top 100 Global Innovators (2023) by Clarivate for its superior innovation and patent intellectual property portfolio.
4 days ago
Schneider Electric appoints Mark Yeeles as vice president for Secure Power
Schneider Electric has appointed Mark Yeeles as the new vice president of its Secure Power division in the UK and Ireland. Yeeles joins the Secure Power division from Schneider Electric’s Industrial Automation business, where he delivered a sustained period of growth through its robotics and process automation solutions.
5 days ago
Sustainability and green technology create new markets
Sustainability efforts create entirely new markets, lead to attractive business models, and offer great opportunities for the key technology that is robotics and automation. Automatica, held in Munich from 27 to 30 June 2023, presents the opportunities of sustainable production.
5 days ago
SBTi approves SKF’s science-based emissions reduction targets
SKF has received validation of its Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions reduction targets from the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). The SBTi has verified SKF’s net-zero target by 2050, validating both SKF’s near and long-term science-based emissions reduction targets.
6 days ago
New labour saving ‘apple-ication’ for ai-optimised 3D vision
Scorpion Vision is presenting a new application for its AI-powered 3D vision platform. The new 3D+AI solution will enable fresh produce processors to automate the peeling, coring and chopping of apples without impacting yield for the first time ever.
6 days ago
Low-cost molecular diagnostic tests delivered using Festo technology
A new near-patient diagnostic testing system which promises to slash the waiting time for results relies on handling gantries and electric axes from Festo for pipetting and dispensing.

Login / Sign up