t has been a number of years now
since the key aspects of quality, pre-
cision, cost effectiveness and environ-
mental protection inspired SCHERDEL
to develop weight compensation for the
construction of machines with a linear
drive for vertical axis utilisation, and
which, compared to hydraulic or pneu-
matic solutions, sets completely new
standards. The engineers at the
SCHERDEL subsidiary INNOTEC,
based in the Walter Bach Research
and Development Centre in Poppen-
reuth near Marktredwitz – the head-
quarters of the global SCHERDEL-
Group
–, boast a system that provides
a counterforce to the moving mass at a
vertical axis. This involves the applica-
tion of pre-tensioned spiral springs piv-
oted on a shaft. The force is transferred
via a toothed belt, which runs on the
casing of the spiral springs, between
the vertical axis and the springs. The
basic idea uses a principle that is as
simple as it is brilliant: the spiral spring
weight compensation compensates the
mass being moved at the axis – for ex-
ample, the weight of a milling spindle
with a tool; in this case, the linear motor
is only responsible for the differential
forces. This helps to greatly reduce the
strain on the motor, which in turn re-
quires less electric power and can be
smaller and lighter. For a number of
years this SCHERDEL development
has sat on the back burner, but with
machine and system manufacturers at-
tempting to capitalise on the defining
trends of our age, in other words ener-
gy efficiency, sustainable environmental
protection and cost optimisation while
still improving the level of performance,
the spotlight has been firmly put back
onto the exceedingly clever solution
from SCHERDEL.
The weight compensation is primarily
intended for machines, machining cen-
tres and systems in general. However,
it can be utilised wherever heavy loads
or components need to be moved me-
chanically or manually, and is suitable
for both the vertical moving tool and
the tool table. The advantages of the
SCHERDEL weight compensation
are particularly evident for non-contact
linear direct drives without mechanical
coupling action. A pre-tensioned spiral
spring compensates of up to 100 kg.
The maximum stroke is roughly
540 mm. Vertical axes with a spindle
and tool often weigh between 300 and
400 kg. In this case, a modular design
principle is used to combine up to four
springs as a large unit. In practical us-
2
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING –
TECHNOLOGY & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
– NEWS AND INFORMATION
I
Weight compensation for
spiral springs take the str
PRODUCTS
SCHERDEL patent proves an extremely cost-effect
In order to compensate greater
weights, a modular design princi-
ple is used to combine up to four
springs as a unit.
Contact
Dipl.Ing. (FH)
Andreas Popp
SCHERDEL INNOTEC
Forschungs- und Entwick-
lungs-GmbH
Scherdelstr. 2
95615 Marktredwitz
Germany
Tel: +49 9231 603-539
Fax: +49 9231 603-578
Email:
andreas.popp@scherdel.de
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