Positioning: Electronic indexer claims to double throughput

By Control Engineering Staff January 25, 2007

Danaher Motion’s Rotary Indexer product set has software selectable motion sequences.

Danaher Motion introduced their Rotary Indexer Product Set, which is fully programmable direct drive solution providing precise, repeatable and flexible electronic indexing in a compact, affordable package. The company claims the set delivers a significant increase in throughput without maintenance, compared with mechanical indexers. Additionally, they claim precisely matched components assure interoperability and optimized performance, ease of system selection and ordering, as well as quick, easy system commissioning.

Dennis Gallagher, vice president of systems for Danaher Motion says: “This solution enables users to achieve software selectable motion sequences that run circles around mechanical indexer capabilities. Precision technology allows for superior repeatability to

The set can be programmed to go in any direction, at any speed, and at any angle, making it attractive to system integrators that deal with multiple product designs, including custom machines, as they can use one indexer to satisfy any number of requirements. Additionally, should the demands of the manufacturing process change this flexibility would also benefit the end-user by allowing them to update the motion sequence to satisfy their application needs.

Users can program index times. Absolute position feedback maintains position even under power cycling, so no homing is required. Users will also benefit from a noticeable 20dB reduction in system noise when compared with mechanical indexers.

The set is lubricated for life and requires no maintenance. Combined with rapid system start-up, including quick-start guide, the company says this system offers the lowest total cost of ownership and highest level of performance of any rotary indexing option available today.

For more information, visit the company’s Website at www.DanaherMotion.com or log onto the Control Engineering Website at www.controleng.com and type “Danaher Motion” into the search box on any page.

— C.G. Masi , Senior Editor