20

trends in automation No 10, 2007

New mini slide DGSL
Range of applications
Precise sliding
Pick-up and handling of high workpiece loads
Key features
The drive is also the guide
Three cushioning variants
Adjustable end stop
Broad range of applications
Compact design with high rigidity and precision
Drives
Guiding strength
The secret is out! The new slide generation type DGSL is
here. Looking at the slide cross section, your eye is imme-
diately drawn to the wide roller track. The main advantage
of the new mini slide is that the drive also acts as the guide.
The slide can therefore tolerate high forces and torques
while offering maximum precision.
The wide roller track of the DGSL makes
the rigidity of the slide very high.
The new pneumatic mini slide generation
from Festo, type DGSL.
Different Pick & Place configurations of the DGSL without adapter plates.
21
trends in automation No. 10, 2007
The innovative miniaturised
slide generation type DGSL fea-
tures many clever details that set
new standards in guide and drive
quality. It is highly resilient, pre-
cise, functional, flexible, compact
and easy to install. The real show-
stopper, however, is the fact that
the drive is also the guide. The
new mini slide is designed as a
double-acting linear drive and can
easily be integrated in the Festo
Modular System for Handling and
Assembly Technology.
Benefit 1: The drive is the guide
In the case of the DGSL, the drive
also forms the guide, because the
aluminium profile constitutes to
the basic housing of a guide. The
hardened stainless steel guide is
paired with the basic guide hous-
ing and the ball cage. The pre-
loading guarantees a consistently
high tension and, consequently,
a high level of operational reliabil-
ity across the entire operational
range. Precision is achieved thanks
to just two tolerance zones.
Benefit 2: Four-row, two-point
roller guiding
While guides with two rows and
four-point bearings tend to jerk
when subjected to high loading,
the DGSL with its defined pre-load-
ing demonstrates gentle, precise
and reliable operating behaviour
with a four-row, two-point roller
guiding.
The bearing cage is centralised by
means of a rack and pinion. A rack
is attached to the moving slide,
and the counterpart is mounted
on the static housing section. A
pinion is fixed on an axis, in the
bearing cage, and rotates between
the racks. The pinion prevents
creeping, which is caused by the
slightest friction differences. The
durability and running characteris-
tics of the guide are thus signifi-
cantly improved.
Benefit 3: Three-K piston
Given the fact that every DGSL
has a higher numerical value for
the internal piston diameter the
DGSL6 has a piston diameter of
8 mm, for example it provides a
similar pneumatic force to a twin
Schematic diagram of the four-row,
two-point guide.
The rack and pinion of the cage centralisation guarantees a long service life for the guide.
Martin Baier, Product Manager,
describes the situation: The new
development of the DGSL incor-
porates all the experience gained
with our previous mini slide. With
this integrated unit, we have
achieved a breakthrough in terms
of torsional rigidity and precision
on the small scale of this product.
Piggy-back installation of the DGSL.
The DGSL guarantees reliable, application-oriented cushioning.
Metallic end stop
No metallic end stop
Internal hexagon for end
position adjustment
Metallic end stop
Hydraulic cushioning Y3 (from DGSL-8)
Elastomer cushioning P
Adjustable elastomer cushioning P1
22 Drives ... Guiding strength
is 1007
Mini slide DGSL
Infoservice
trends in automation No. 10, 2007
Technical data
Sizes: 4 to 25 mm
Cushioning: Metallic insert, P and polymer
cushioning
Workpiece load: Up to 6,139 grammes (size 25)
Repetition accuracy: Linearity and parallelism in
the 1/100 mm range
Safety functions: Clamping cartridge or end lock
Easy mounting using precise interfaces
Easy stroke adjustment and compressed air
connection mounting from one side
Very good price/performance ratio
nut, but instead by an easy-to-use
clamping component. This allows
precision adjustment of the stroke
length in the 1/100 mm range.
Benefit 6: Easy stroke adjustment
Virtually all advance strokes can
be halved by using the moveable
end stop. This avoids stroke gaps
and allows extended strokes,
which means reduced warehous-
ing costs, as all required stroke
lengths can be created from just
three basic stroke lengths. Another
benefit is greater reliability as a
result of rigidity, which is gained
when the user orders a longer
slide and significantly reduces the
stroke.
Benefit 7: Safety first
The DGSL offers end lock or clamp-
ing cartridge options, which pre-
vent uncontrolled lowering of the
load onto the workpiece carrier in
the event of a pressure drop and
provide protection in emergency
stop situations. The end lock
ensures safe holding in the retract-
ed end position. The clamping car-
tridge enables secure holding
across the entire stroke.
piston drive. Other benefits of the
single-piston principle include
lower friction, lower leakage,
no stick-slip effect and a longer
service life.
Benefit 4: Interfaces and direct
mounting
Thanks to the standardised inter-
faces for rail, yoke plate and hous-
ing, the user can combine two
DGSLs without adapter plates.
They can be combined as a dynam-
ic Pick & Place system or with
intermediate position in a piggy-
back installation. Through-holes
with female thread are used for
mounting.
Benefit 5: Three cushioning
variants
The shock absorber with metallic
end position is ideal for high
impact forces. For average impact
forces without an exact end posi-
tion, a simple, cost-effective flexi-
ble cushioning element is a good
solution. Adjustable polymer cush-
ioning is sufficient for low impact
forces. The benefit of this type
of cushioning lies in the metal-on-
metal fixed stop function, which
guarantees high precision. With
all three variants, the cushioning
elements are not secured by a lock
Simple replacement of the stop and cover is all that is required to significantly reduce the
stroke of the DGSL.
The end lock shown unlocked (top) and locked (above)
Clamping cartridge in operation.
CAD data in the online catalogue at www.festo.de