Page 8 - Industrial_Technology_EXTRA_May_11th_2020_Classical

LINEAR MOTION...

Curry instead of cola

Igus supports student spice vending machine project with drylin W linear systems
ive students from Heubach, Germany
have developed a vending machine for
packaged spices together with engineers
Fand trainees from EMAG LaserTec. To
ensure that the salt, curry and pepper cans are
picked from their compartments quickly, they
used the drylin W linear guides from Igus.
Putting academic knowledge to direct use:
this was an opportunity for members of the
Student Engineering Academy, including the
students of the Rosenstein Gymnasium in
Heubach. Five pupils from the 11th grade had the enable the system to take the right spice from the
opportunity to get a taste of the engineering vending machine, we needed a durable and smooth
profession for over a year. In the process, they running linear guide for the axes. Therefore, the
learned the basics of project management, technical students contacted Igus.”
drawing, gear technology and programming. A total of three linear guides are used in the
Together with the knowledge from the subjects spice vending machine. They ensure that all
taught and the training workshop provided by compartments are easily accessible so that the
EMAG LaserTec, the pupils were able to develop a corresponding spice can be removed and dispensed.
vending machine for spices. For the mechanical The triboplastics in the sliding parts of the drylin
motion, the team used the drylin W linear linear guide are completely free of lubricants and
construction kit with the help of the young are suitable for use in the food industry. As there are
engineers support (yes) programme from Igus. no lubricants in the system, no dirt can stick to the
The idea for the spice vending machine was linear slide and block the guide.
born during a tour of the EMAG LaserTec factory in The young engineers chose a belt drive to drive
Heubach. There the pupils were enthusiastic about the z-axis. The problem here was the high vibration
the automatic high-bay warehouse for tools and but the linear bearings were able to absorb them
then considered a task that could be automated in successfully. The drylin linear technology is not only
everyday life. “The pupils quickly came up with the used in innovative spice vending machines, but also
idea to build a spice vending machine for the in many proven vending machines, such as cash
supermarket to speed up the selection and dispensers, vending machines for beverages or even
purchasing process,” explains Jens Gruber, who in automatic order picking systems of pharmacies.
supervised the project at EMAG LaserTec. “To www.igus.co.uk

May 2020 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA! • p8