"Light engraving" as a final project

Profile

• What was needed: weight-optimised linear guide
• Requirements: good price-performance ratio
• Industry: Education
• Success for the customer: Support in the project and advice on the selection of components

This student project of the BIK and BIME institutes (University of Bremen) is concerned with the development of a no-camber-controlled gantry for use as a multifunctional machine tool. This should have three axes and the design must be a lightweight construction.

After four years of further training at the Mainz University of Applied Sciences for Automation Technology, the two students Markus Fey and Joachim Schrott are about to complete their practical final thesis. The task was to plan and realise a CNC-controlled 3-axis machine in portal design. The basic idea of the students Fey and Schrott was to engrave lettering on wood or plastic. The two students used a CAD programme to plan and design their machine. This programme considerably simplified and accelerated the technical planning of their machine. The guide elements and e-chain® used in the engraving machine were supplied by igus® GmbH. The project team decided in favour of igus® as their products fully met the requirements profile of the project.

The general advantages of igus® products are low weight, corrosion resistance, protection against weather and dirt, and freedom from maintenance and lubricants. The e-chain® used was determined according to the available installation space. The length, width, height and bend radius of the e-chain® played a major role in this, and students Fey and Schrott opted for a closed system that protects cables from dirt and damage. The zipper system was chosen to make it easier to lay the cables. This enables the feed-through of the cables after the e-chain® has been installed.

Drawing of the engraving machine

2

drylin® R

3

trapezoidal lead screw nut

8

Guide rod

16

drylin® R

19

Guide rod

24

Guide rail

25

drylin® W