Thermoplastic VersaRack opens up new motion control applications

Nexen Group’s latest generation of rack and pinion gears is said to provide new opportunities in precision motion control. An alternative to traditional metal racks, the thermoplastic Versa Rack is claimed to deliver high corrosion resistance and durability, low maintenance requirements, medium accuracy and load-carrying capacity at relatively low cost.

The Versa Rack is suitable for many picking, part-marking and gantry-based automation systems as well as conveyers and CNC routers which can generate large volumes of chips that can interfere with the lubrication of steel racks. Made of self-lubricating polymer, the Versa Rack is able to run at full speed without additional lubrication.

It features backlash of less than 3.2µm and positional accuracy of ±580µm and can withstand loads of 500 to 1200N depending on pinion size. The speed rating of value pinions and thermoplastic racks is 480 to 750rpms and 2m/s.