Ring and Track motion - The next generation

The PRT2 system comprises a comprehensive range of ring slides, ring segments, bearings and ancillary components to suit the majority of rotary and track system applications. It introduces a substantially expanded range of sizes, with the added benefit of across the range load capacities being increased by a typical 50% or more, and includes stainless steel availability as standard. In fact it extends customer choice by a massive 45%. This friction-free, debris-tolerant system also adds several new options that allow innovative and highly reliable technical solutions to be engineered. The extended choice of ring slide types - double edged, single edged, internal/external Vees, gear cut or plain - in various diameters, is available in both steel and stainless steel with hardened Vee edges for maximum wear resistance. They provide circular motion control at the periphery where it is needed and a large hollow centre to accommodate other components, services and even people in the case of an MRI scanner. Track systems combine ring segments and straight slides to achieve an almost limitless variation of open paths and closed circuits. Both left and right hand bends can be negotiated depending on the carriage selected. In addition to 90° and 180° ring segments customers can specify straight slides up to 4 metres long that can be butted together to achieve track systems of unlimited length. A keyway alignment feature facilitates easy installation and adjustment of joins between straight and curved sides, overcoming minor inaccuracy in positioning. HepcoMotion® bearings are available in a range of five popular sizes and various formats in both twin and double row configurations to suit most design requirements. The special raceway conformity and low radial clearance make these bearings particularly suited to ring slide applications. All are lubricated for life internally and are available with metal shields to exclude dust and swarf or nitrile seal to prevent the ingress of liquids and debris. A new addition to the range is the floating bearing whose outer race axial float accommodates Vee position variation. In addition to the double edge Vee ring slides and segments, single edge versions are also available within the PRT2 programme. Datum faces on both types are provided both internally and externally for ease of location and gear drive options are available with teeth machined into the appropriate register face. The number of teeth is divisible by 4 and 12 in order to provide maximum choice of pinion size for exact ratio requirements. A precision ground ring disc is now available for turntable applications. This provides a large precision mounting surface that can be easily customised to accommodate customer's components. A carriage clamping brake and also a high moment load carriage system are also new additions. The latter provides extra support and rigidity in applications where high downward or offset loads are anticipated, typically at work stations. Two types of workstation support are available, static and dynamic. Customers can also specify bogie carriages with adjustable connecting rods to create a linked carriage system, typically for 'S' bend configurations. They are based on high performance swivel bearings that are lubricated for life and provide both precision movement and extreme rigidity. Lubrication on all HepcoMotion® products is simple and effective but a new option for the track systems is bleed lubrication. This continuously doses lubrication through holes, direct into the Vee contact faces to eliminate the need for servicing downtime. The application potential of the PRT2 system is extensive and HepcoMotion® has therefore designed the PRT2 product catalogue to work in parallel with its website to provide greater scope for detail. This allows readers to download additional data sheets on different features as well as access more information on the new options in .pdf and 2D/3D formats.