HepcoMotion MHD: Putting the "Heavy Duty" in Linear Motion Control

HEAVY DUTY The MHD Heavy Duty Track Roller Guidance product line literally has "heavy duty" built into the name (the acronym stands for max-heavy-duty). It's a linear guide system designed for heavy mechanical handling industries, like welding, assembly, automotive or other industries that call for robotic transfer systems. The MHD comes as a kit with tracks and four bearing blocks made up of right and left block assemblies.

BUILDING BLOCKS Bearing blocks come with three large integral crown rollers. They're sealed for life to reduce friction and thus maintenance. That means it lasts longer and works more. The top tapered crown roller that carries the heaviest load is a tapered bearing, which supports higher capacities. Rollers on the side and lower region can adjust to remove play. The bearings' double-row tapering align in the direction of travel, which allows it to resist end loading and premature failure sometimes caused by axial loading.

FLAT TRACKS The MHD comes with a couple of hardened and fully ground 100-by-40 millimeter high-precision flat tracks. Rails are supplied at a length of 1461mm and are precision-manufactured to allow any guide rail with or without rack to be butted to any other guide rail. That allows for virtually limitless lengths. The system's accuracy, durability and low-friction linear guides make it well-suited for moving heavy automation equipment.

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MHD pinions. Credit: HepcoMotion

PINIONS MHD comes with two sizes of pinions to match flat tracks with both straight-cut and helical racks. These pinions come with a metric module tooth form with a 20-degree pressure angle. They're made out of premium quality case-hardened steel. The pinions come with keyless locking bushings which allow them to be securely fitted to a standard shaft.

CARRIAGE SOLUTIONS MHD carriages can be engineered to fit any application needs. The standard elements include gearboxes, lubricating pinions, bearing cartridges and MHD blocks and pinions. Together, they can be built into a rugged, cost-effective rack-driven carriage, like the one pictured below.

MHD carriages. Credit: HepcoMotion

APPLICATIONS MHD systems have been used in robot applications, where a robot is mounted on a rack-driven carriage that allows it to travel along a linear axis for pick-and-place operation. The MHD slide moves the robotic pick-and-place arm from one workstation to another, as pictured in the image below.