Fast Cycling Linear Assembly System LS280.

Linear system for cylinder lock production
The LS linear system forms the basis of a fast-cycle cylinder lock assembly system.

Challenge
High positioning accuracy with the shortest possible workpiece changing times. These were Aumat's requirements for the design of a new, fully automated system for assembling cylinder locks.

Solution
The cylinder lock goes through a total of 15 processing stations before it becomes a finished product. This large number of stations as well as the required short cycle times were the main reasons for using the LS 280 linear assembly system. The design of the system allows short workpiece changing times of 0.5 seconds and high positioning accuracy with fixed interlocking. The modular cell concept is flexible and offers enhanced accessibility.

Needle production line with 20 stations
For the forming, bending and drilling of medical needles, the linear transfer system LS 280 is the alternative to the rotary table.

Challenge
Jouhsen-bündgens is a manufacturer of wire processing systems used in the automotive and electrical industry amongst others. The company was commissioned by a manufacturer of medical needles to engineer a machine capable of producing straight and bent needles at a high cycle rate. And all this in a wide range of diameters and lengths.

Solution
With regard to the high cycle rate, the rotary table would have been first choice. However, due to the large number of process steps and machining stations this was unrealistic. Along came the LS 280. Its concept as a "cut-open rotary indexing table" made it the ideal alternative. It combines a traditional belt transport system with cam drives in the cells, which mechanically interlock the workpiece holders without the need for time-consuming indexing steps.

Brought into line over 35 metres
50 processes were brought together in a single 35-metre-long system, employing three LS linear assembly systems operating in total synergy.

Challenge
Gluth Systemtechnik specialises in modular automation and testing technology. The global player in special machine construction has a special focus on the automotive sector. For the assembly and testing of proportional solenoids, 50 individual processes were to be united in a single system with extremely short changing times. However, the required implementation time for the system was only ten months.

Solution
Gluth Systemtechnik chose the LS linear assembly system to form the backbone of the system. Two LS systems were used in sequence in order to enable flexible operation, for example around a corner. The special LS concept allows a short realisation time as well as a high level of system availability as a functionally tested and reliable basic system. Additional advantages include the short changing times and easy accessibility. Linked rotary indexing tables would have compromised accessibility and the cycle rate of conventional linear transfer systems would have been too low. With the new assembly line, however, the cycle time was almost halved from 6.5 to 3.5 seconds.

Keep plugging away

CEE plug connection assembly: Linear transport system with matching handling components – supplied complete and ready for installation from WEISS.

Challenge
As a classic custom machine builder, the company Wilei from the Black Forest was looking to implement an assembly line for CEE plug connections. Alongside a short cycle time, the particular challenge here was handling the very large number of different versions. For reasons of space and with a view to potential expansion, a linear system had been specified from the outset for transportation of the units.

Solution
All components for transport and handling come from WEISS and were supplied as a complete, ready-for-installation system. The LS 280 linear system perfectly fulfils the stipulations in terms of cycle time and positioning accuracy for transporting the workpiece carriers. The gentle motion sequence is another plus point. The necessary handling is performed by a combination of freely programmable units, comprising two linear axes (HG25, HL 50), as well as one ST55 rotating unit. To save space, a total of three handling groups of this kind run on a single linear motor axis that measures one metre in length (HN 100). The perfectly matched overall composition ensures a high degree of flexibility and precision, as well as a low cycle time of 8.5 seconds.