A solar tube manufacturer needed two 6m systems in parallel to support the cross axis that carries the panels.

A HepcoMotion HDS2 system with 2 x HB25 beams – 6m long with ground vee slides size 25 fitted to one of the beams. 64mm dia vee bearings were fitted into a custom carriage. The opposing beam used size 25 ground flat track with size 58mm dia rollers, the rollers accomodating any lateral movement. A rack drive was the customers preferred driving method and, as the guides have a rack cut into the guide, this saved having a separate rack. Low maintenance cap wipers (CW64) were also fitted.

2 x HB25 beams – 6000mm long, one beam with guides PHSS25/ PHSS25R x 5995mm were fitted. The opposing beam was fitted with PHTS25/ PHTS25R x 5995mm flat track. Blind hole vee bearings (BHJ64C/E) for ease of maintenance match the vee guides and blind hole rollers (BHRR58C/E) for the beam with flat tracks.

Many potential problems were solved with standard HDS2 components. The minimal lubrication requirement can put heavy demands on guidance systems and many would fail without adequate supply of lubricant. The low maintenance cap wipers distribute just enough grease to keep the vee guides lubricated. Vee technology only requires small amounts of lubrication to be effective with the natural wiping action smoothing the lubricant over the vee surface.

The compliance issue was satisfied by the use of flat tracks and rollers and the HB25 beam provides sufficient rigidity to maintain stiffness as the carriage moves along the 6m beam.

This application was subject to a high duty cycle working 24/7; the only ongoing maintenance required was to check and update periodically the grease within the cap seals and the grease on the racks.