Position-monitored screwing portal (screwing gantry / fastening system) for hand-guided screwing processes

Illustration of a screw portal with a double screw driver

Supervised screwdriving - challenges

Screwdriving processes in the industrial environment today have to meet high quality and traceability requirements. It is also about ensuring the safety of screw points / screw connections in critical and sensitive areas, such as in the automotive industry, railway technology, etc., where screw connections are required up to category A (danger to life and physical well-being) is imperative here.

The limits of conventional screw-in / fastening stands

In the industrial environment, screwing / fastening systems with stands are most commonly used today. Among other things, some of our compact.UNI assembly workstations as well as many of our other screwing assembly stations are equipped in this way. However, the use of screwing stands has its limits in some applications:

• The radius of use is limited by the construction
• When designing workplaces, the vertical stroke of the linkage must always be taken into account.
• The determination of the position can become inaccurate if the linkage is pulled out far.
• Conventional screwing / fastening stands are limited to a single screwdriver at a time. If several screwdrivers are to be used at the same time, this is extremely complicated in terms of construction and multiplies the costs for a screwing system (especially when safety-sensitive screw connections are required, such as with screw category A)

Position-monitored screwing portal as an alternative to conventional screwing stands

For this reason, we at Brainware Solutions GmbH have developed a position-monitored screwing portal as an alternative that overcomes all of these limitations and enables precise screwing at any position, even in large assembly systems.

• With the position-monitored screwing portal, the accuracy is always identical at every position.
• There is no need for additional space to be taken into account for extending the screw-in tripod to the rear or to the side.
• Several screwdrivers can be used in the portal / gantry at the same time (see illustrations).
• Individual designs are possible.

Parameters of our position-monitored screwing portal / screwing gantry

• Monitored area width (x-axis): 7,000 mm
• Monitored area depth (y-axis): 450 mm
• Monitored area height (z-axis): 500 mm
• Accuracy of the position: Flexibility through individual sensors (analogue sensors, digital sensors, SSI sensors, draw-wire sensors, etc.) for individual requirements, high repeat accuracy
• Monitored parameters (in combination with the fastening system): x-axis, y-axis, z-axis, torque, rotation angle, fastening sequence (also according to a screwing layout), documentation and traceability of all parameters
• Number of screwdrivers: Standard with one carriage with one or two screwdrivers per carriage, several carriages possible depending on requirements
• Possible screwdrivers: suitable for straight screwdrivers and angle screwdrivers with a torque of up to 50 Nm, suitable adapters for common screw spindle manufacturers
• Carriage: smooth-running thanks to the use of high-quality materials
• Tool setup: automatic recognition of the screwdriver tools used (e.g. when changing tools), intelligent tool change box
• Connection: Connection to customer databases is possible without any problems.
• Collaboration: Thanks to the vCheck® automation software, excellent connection and combination with other assembly or test components for the entire assembly and test process Connection to customer databases is possible without any problems.

Videos

A short sequence of our screwing portal (screwing gantry), which is used here in an assembly system with four assembly stations. A conventional screw stand was out of the question in this case due to the space limitations. It was also the customer's wish to assemble with two different screwdrivers. All this would not have been possible with a conventional screwing stand.

Picture gallery

The data and illustrations given correspond to the status of development. Changes in design or technical equipment can be made without notice. Subject to errors and changes.