
Expertise and power density drives new mobile robotics revolution
Robotics solutions and case studies
Case study: Overhead gantry robot
For many factories specializing in the fabrication of heavy objects like car engines an overhead gantry provides a convenient way of transporting goods between the various process stages. Adding a robot to each gantry allows increased flexibility at each of the workstations. Typically brushes are used to pick up power on overhead gantry systems. This manufacturer wanted to remove this source of unreliability by switching to a contactless induction power system. The key goals were:
The gantry’s inductive pick-up generated a widely varying AC output that was rectified and then regulated by a Vicor DCM DC-DC converter. These converters are able to operate over a very wide input voltage range of up to 9 to 1 (high to low input range). This capability enabled the reliable, regulated supply needed for the gantry robot motor drives, actuators and control system. Key benefits were:
The DCM converter regulated and isolated the widely varying output from the inductive pick-up, providing a stable output. In addition, the converter’s double-sided cooling reduced the operating temperature, providing increased reliability. To analyze this power chain go to the Vicor Whiteboard online tool.
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