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APPLICATION EXAMPLE: Mafu

Large axes, small springs

Spring fitting system for the automotive industry: eight processing stations, 24 axes over six square metres

Challenge

MAFU Automation is a specialist in spring disentangling and feeding. For a highly sophisticated spring fitting system within motor vehicle assistance systems, some 600 springs per minute needed to be positioned in the boreholes of workpiece holders while ensuring extremely high availability. The high performance requirements as well as the small amount of space available presented further challenges.

SOLUTION

The backbone of the system is a powerful, 2.8 metre-long customer-specific linear motor axis, which was produced specifically for this application. It requires just one second to move its carriage to each user-programmable position. With a cycle time of just 4.5 seconds, the workpiece holders are distributed over eight parallel processing stations. The HN200 linear motor axes used here with attached ST140 rotating unit facilitate the requisite placement frequency of 600 springs per minute. Alongside the cycle speed, the high service life requirement of 30 million cycles was the key factor. To simplify installation, all assemblies (including the power supply and lubrication system) were delivered fully pre-assembled as system components.
Products in use
ST model range ST model range
High-torque rotating unit HN model range HN model range
Highly dynamic linear motor axis
In the future, we will primarily work with WEISS when seeking to implement systems of this kind.
Ralph Lehleuter
Managing Director at MAFU

Solutions

  • A high cycle speed with placement frequency of 600 springs, while also meeting the high service life requirement of 30 million cycles.
  • Low space requirement for eight parallel processing stations with 24 axes over six square metres.
  • Pre-assembled system components for easy installation and faster commissioning.
  • Spring fitting system for the automotive industry. High performance. Long service life requirement.
    Spring fitting system for the automotive industry. High performance. Long service life requirement.
  • Customer-specific linear motor axis with a length of 2.8 metres. Cycle time: 4.5 seconds.
    Customer-specific linear motor axis with a length of 2.8 metres. Cycle time: 4.5 seconds.
  • eight processing stations, comprising HN200 linear motor axes and ST140 rotating unit, deliver the requisite placement frequency of 600 springs per minute.
    eight processing stations, comprising HN200 linear motor axes and ST140 rotating unit, deliver the requisite placement frequency of 600 springs per minute.