Festo has launched a family of electromechanical axes that sets a new performance paradigm for the motion control industry. Based on a radically new profile design the new ECG axes offer exceptional feed force, speed, acceleration and torque resistance characteristics. They are suitable for use in gantry-type materials handling, supplying and transporting systems, and are likely to open up entirely new application areas for high performance single and multi-axis motion control. Offering a choice of toothed belt or ballscrew drive mechanisms – with numerous variants in both categories – EGC axes enable OEMs and system integrators to choose an actuator that is optimally matched to their application needs. The main body of every EGC axis is constructed from extruded aluminium, and the axes’ stainless steel guide rail is mounted externally, allowing the moving carriage to accommodate large cantilever offsetting loads that apply very high moments of torque to the carriage. Festo also offers a number of optional guide scrapers and grease feed adapters for use with centralised lubrication systems. The toothed belt version of the EGC axis is available with a choice of 50, 70, 80, 120 and 185mm wide profiles, and the three largest models can be supplied with standard stroke lengths of up to 8.5m.
