Lightweight cantilever axis

The drylin® cantilever axes are suitable for many positioning and adjustment tasks and are characterised by high operational safety and low weight. Applications in a vertical plane are particularly suitable for this. If the drive is realised via a gear rack, the mass that is moved is reduced. In puntco energy savings, the power transmission to a gear rack is up to 30 % more favourable compared to a belt deflection. It is also possible to connect grippers, pick up and move parts.

Advantages at a glance:

High, constant rigidity of the axis regardless of the length of the stroke
High precision
High speeds possible
Installation position can be controlled as required
Long travel distances can be realised

Linear axes with rack and pinion drive

Extensible endless gear linear mould EGW

Solution for long travels
Rack and pinion elements modularly (endlessly) expandable
For applications > 2,000mm
Separate operation of several linear carriages possible at the same time

More information

Lightweight axis for pick & place drylin GRQ

Toothed, hard anodised, corrosion-free square hollow section
Loads up to 500g with a speed of up to 0.7m/s possible
Drive: NEMA11 stepper motor with gear wheel
Lightweight, fast, small, and lubrication-free

Buy gripper axis drylin GRQ

Dynamic z-axis drylin GRW

Direct force transfer via gear rack
Compact structure
For loads up to 10N
Material combination: aluminium profile/plastic gear rack
Accessories available
Available with motor

Buy Z-axis drylin GRW

Lightweight z-axis drylin GRR

Lightweight Z-axis (1.45kg) for strokes up to 500mm
Made from aluminium and plastic
Ideal for linear robots
Dynamic mass of only 0.9kg enables fast operation
Also available as larger versions with stroke lengths of up to 1000mm and load capacities of up to 100N

Buy Z-axis drylin GRR

For multi-axis linear robots

For test and measuring equipment

For pick & place applications

Linear drive with rack: advantages and disadvantages

When to use it?

pick & place application with high dynamics
For compact structure of the application
As z axis in multi-axis gantries

When not to use it?

High loads
Self-locking
Dirt-filled application fields

Structure of an igus® rack and pinion axis (z-axis)

1.
Direct force transfer via gear rack

2.
Torsion-resistant thanks to hollow aluminium shafts drylin® AWMR

3.
Lubricant- and maintenance-free thanks to drylin linear plain films® R

4.
Dynamic mass of only 0.9kg enables fast operation

cantilever axis with toothed belt drive

The drylin® cantilever axis ZAW-1040 has a permanently mounted drive unit. It is lubrication-free, lightweight and suitable for high accelerations.

cantilever axis ZAW-1040

Automation with stepper motors, direct current motors and EC/BLDC motors

For linear axis and handling systems in general, igus® offers a wide range of electric motors. Hybrid stepper motors or DC motors are used in spindle, toothed belt and rack and pinion drives. The electric motors complete the range of igus® in automation. Entire handling systems can thus be configured in combination with cantilever axes and linear axes with rack and pinion drive in general.

Find out more about electric motors

Find out more about electric motors

Customer application examples

Automated sample preparation

This machine is to prepare samples in the field of trace analysis. The aim should be to use comparable glassware and chemicals as in similar manual machines. The contract was awarded to igus, as all of the components used, such as the GRW rack axis, were able to impress with absolute resistance to chemicals and dirt.

drylin GRW rack axes provide the necessary accuracy

drylin GRW rack axes in a sample preparation

Optimal use of the installation space in a bottling plant

A maintenance-free linear robot from igus is used in a customised automation solution for the complex handling of liquids by the company M2-Automation. In addition to the robustness, the linear robot is characterised by its cost-effectiveness. The drylin GRQ racks are used as dosing axes in the form of an z-axis in addition to a variably clampable proximity switch holder and self-aligning plain bearings and ensure the highest precision work during operation.

drylin GRQ rack axes are impressive as dosing axes