INA, FAG, L-A-T and präTEC offer new solutions for electronics manufacturing machines

HERZOGENAURACH/MUNICH, November 11, 2003. With a great number of new solutions, the four companies belonging to the Schaeffler Group Industry, INA, FAG, L-A-T and präTEC, will demonstrate their concentrated expertise. Innovative direct drive solutions and solutions for typical electronics manufacturing applications will be exhibited at two trade show booths. The INA, FAG and L-A-T booth will be located in Hall A5, booth 248, and präTEC can be found in Hall B6 at booth 452. At the Productronica show, INA Linear Technology will have its new generation of ball type profiled rail units on center stage. While the KUVE..B has been specially designed for applications with heavy loads and offers the necessary high load carrying capacity, rigidity and precision, the KUVE..B KT offers low-noise operation. The KUVE..B's new design has excellent running characteristics as well as a flexible relubrication facility such as a lateral lubrication connection. In contrast to the heavy load series, the newly developed low-noise KUVE..B KT system is based on the principle of rolling element separation. Quadspacers (plastic cages) accommodate four rolling elements each, allowing circulation and collision noise to be reduced. In addition, the innovative design includes a significantly reduced carriage mass, allowing the unit to be used in applications involving high dynamics. Both KUVE series represent a further development of the successful four row ball type profiled rail unit KUVE. In addition, INA will present innovative rolling bearing solutions for direct drives in which four point contact ball bearings and crossed roller bearings have been integrated in direct drives. They allow customers to provide support for radial, axial and tilting moment loads. These bearings are especially easy to mount since they are provided with securing elements. INA-Schaeffler KG will also demonstrate its expertise in deflection rollers with rolling bearing supports. INA deflection rollers represent an optimum solution for all types of transport systems, especially in transport systems for integrated circuit boards. The numerous products on display coupled with expert application support let trade show customers put together their own tailor-made systems. FAG Kugelfischer offers lubricant free hybrid bearings for special applications in the semiconductor industry in which contamination due to lubricants can cause severe damage. FAG engineers solved this challenging problem by combining the high temperature nitrided special steel Cronidur 30 with ceramic rolling elements. In addition, all surfaces have been optimized in terms of sliding capability and abrasion resistance. A self-lubricating plastic cage is used to separate the rolling elements. Hybrid bearings have a long service life and are suitable for applications involving high rotating speeds. L-A-T SUHL AG's planar direct drive systems are well suited for complex manufacturing operations that require very high precision, flexibility, dynamics and reliability despite the large number of interfaces. Efficiency is increased by the use of several air bearing equipped forcers on one stator. Motion in the X-Y-Z axes as well as the theta axis can be achieved. Due to the permanent magnetic forces in the planar drive, operation in an upside down position is also possible. True position control is then achieved through the closed-loop operation. The major highlight that präTEC - Präzisionstechnik GmbH will have on exhibit at the show is the open frame three-axis positioning system. The system consists of an XY positioning stage with an integrated theta axis used as the hollow shaft table. The open frame positioning system is characterized by high dynamics, rigidity and thus high positioning accuracy. The system's lightweight design also allows a pulse reduction to be achieved. Engineers are currently working on the option of expanding the system to include a Z axis.