For the final sanding of surfaces, an exact alignment of the workpiece to the sanding belt is important. In order to create a uniform grinding pattern, the component to be processed must be able to be precisely positioned together with the lifting table. With the Omni Grind belt sanders from Peitzmeier mechanical engineering take on this task linear guides from Rollon, which bring even heavy workpieces into the desired position precisely and within seconds.

Contents

• Grinding for precision in the micrometer range
• Robust liner technology for high load carrying capacity
  • Matching profiles ensure parallelism
  • Runners for clearance-free positioning
    
    

Grinding for precision in the micrometer range

In many cases, grinding is the last step in the machining process of a workpiece. The so-called finishing ensures a high surface quality for extractor hoods, sink tables and stainless steel cladding in food processing and packaging plants. is required precision in the micrometer range.

While 20 years ago stone grinding was still considered the measure of things, today it defines it Belt loops the state of the art. In principle, all components benefit from sanding belt finishing, because “the finer the grinding pattern, the better the cleanability and the higher the resistance to aggressive acids and alkalis,” explains Ulrich Peitzmeier, managing director and founder of Peitzmeier Maschinenbau GmbH.

With Omni Grind The medium-sized company from Gütersloh provides a modular system for processing surfaces made of stainless steel, steel and aluminum. The flexible two-belt grinding machines are available in two versions: as the Omni Grind Twin for processing medium-sized workpieces and as the Omni Grind Portal (pictured above) with the highest level of automation for processing workpieces with large volumes and weights.

Robust liner technology for high load carrying capacity

In both machine versions, the built-in linear technology plays a central role in holding the workpiece. Regardless of whether it is a slatted frame table, a rotary-tilting unit or a scissor-lift table: “In order to create a uniform grinding pattern, the exact alignment of the workpiece to the sanding belt must be ensured,” says Ulrich Peitzmeier.

The Mechanical engineering professionals from Gütersloh dealt with potential suppliers of linear guidance systems and formulated a catalog of requirements. But that alone wasn't the decisive factor for her choice. Since the Omni Grind portal is designed for workpieces with heavy weight, robust roller guides were also required. The lifting tables, which weigh up to 5 t and are 5 m wide, must be able to be moved safely on them. Even if the geometry changes, the table feed must always be in the same relationship to the feed speed of the workpiece.

Ultimately, Ulrich Peitzmeier decided on the Compact Rail system from Rollon when implementing his modular machine concept. Their smooth running and a wide range of roller runners make the guide rails made of cold-drawn carbon steel the ideal solution when heavy components need to be moved in a precise linear manner. Rüdiger Knevels, General Manager, Rollon International and Managing Director of the German Rollon subsidiary: “We quickly found a trusting partnership because we were able to comprehensively fulfill Peitzmeier Maschinenbau’s wishes.”

Matching profiles ensure parallelism

The Compact Rail series includes a total of 5 different sizes up to 63 mm rail width. The inductively hardened and ground raceways of the Linear rail lie on the inside of one C profile and are therefore protected from contamination. In addition to the compact design, the company founder was impressed by the corrosion-resistant surfaces of the roller guides - but above all by their innovative self-alignment and high precision in operation.

"Because the rails can carry heavy loads, they fit optimally with our systems," says Ulrich Peitzmeier. The Compact Rail is also suitable for applications where parallelism errors in one or two planes have to be compensated for, using the various rail forms fixed bearing, non-locating bearing and compensating rail. "This compensation is a feature of the CompactRail product family," adds Rüdiger Knevels.

Igus linear guide as a quiet, maintenance-free alternative

The problem is typical for the alignment of two-lane, parallel guidance systems. It arises, for example, from insufficient precision in the axial parallelism of the mounting surfaces of the support structure due to temperature fluctuations. The consequences: “An extreme strain on the runners due to tension and their drastically reduced service life,” continues Rüdiger Knevels. In the Omni Grind belt grinding machines, a combination of fixed bearing and floating bearing rail with a T or U profile in sizes 35 and 43 ensures this Parallelism compensation. Rüdiger Knevels: “When using such a system, the T-rail takes on the actual guiding task, while the U-rail serves as a support bearing and proportionally absorbs the radial forces and M_zMoments ".

Runners for clearance-free positioning

The high positioning and repeat accuracy Workpiece holder This also ensures that the rollers of the runners can be adjusted without play. The Compact Rail series offers runners with a body made of die-cast aluminum (N series) or steel (C series). Depending on the installation requirements and load requirements, they can be configured with 3, 4, 5 or 6 rollers, which are in alternating contact with the two running surfaces of the guide rails. Their maximum load capacity is 15.000 N per runner.

Rüdiger Knevels gives an example: "In an application with a single rotor per rail, an overloading load causes an M_z-Moment in one direction, runners with four or six rollers are ideal. Inside the Omni Grind belt sander Portal-3111-A For example, two runners from the CS series, each with four rollers, are used per rail. They are characterized by their smooth running, even at high travel speeds, and thus contribute to a long service life.

Regardless of whether it is the Omni Grind in twin or portal version: it was only logical for Ulrich Peitzmeier to equip his belt grinding machines with the modern linear guide system from Rollon. In addition to the technical requirements for high accuracy and load-bearing capacity, economic aspects also played a role in the structural design of the workpiece holder. “With the linear guides from the Compact Rail series, we have machine elements in use that meet all of our requirements,” concludes Ulrich Peitzmeier. They ensure the final polish of consistently high quality – and that “without scrap and rework“, as the managing director concludes.

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