What Causes Gaps in Rotary Indexer Operation?
In the use of automation, there will be gaps between sites. The following is a brief analysis for you. In general, rotary indexers occasionally produce gaps in normal use, most of which are caused by overloaded operation of the system.
In the use of the cam rotary indexer, damage to the cam will cause the rotary indexer to get stuck. On the one hand, metal chips caused by damage can jam the mechanism. On the other hand, the rotary indexer will still work fine, but it will be at every station. If a regular gap is generated, then, in this case, it is necessary to consider maintaining or replacing the input cam of the rotary indexer.
How Does Cam Damage Affect the Rotary Indexer?
Damage to the cam is rare in rotary indexers, as most cams are made of steel with a hardness of 58-62HRC and the surface is carburized at high temperatures. The carburized coating surface can reach 1.2 mm, which not only guarantees the characteristics of surface hardness, but also has the metal toughness of the product structure. As a result, most of the damaged parts in the rotary indexer will first occur on the needle roller bearings on the output turret. Needle roller bearings are actually made of wear- and impact-resistant materials, but they belong to a combined structure compared to cams. In the case of overload operation, they are still at a disadvantage compared to the physical parts of the cam.
In mechanical transmissions, when the needle bearing is damaged, there is a gap in the fixed station. In the use of the multi-station disc machine, there may even be two or more irregular gaps, and the needle roller is deformed or damaged beyond repair and can only be replaced. When a similar situation occurs, it is advisable to send the rotary indexer back to the factory for inspection and repair.