Smooth, accurate cutting

Intech Power-Core guide rollers and iCamFollowers are calculated for long wear life, eliminate rail wear, and do not require lubrication.Autometrix Precision Cutting Systems is a highly motivated company that takes dependability to new levels by designing their machines in such a way that customers are able to make repairs and maintain the systems easily, rather than calling for factory repairs that could cost time and money. This approach means that the cost of owning an Autometrix cutting machine is lower, and that the machine is operational more of the time.

Take their AutoCut 7000 cutting system as an example. The AutoCut 7000 is an earlier designed system that is still in operation today. The company continues to provide replacement parts for their customers for that unit.

The company’s modular approach to design allows customers to replace most parts with little instruction. In addition, if the repair is extreme and the system needs to be factory repaired, Autometrix Precision Cutting Systems often provides a loaner to reduce their customer’s overall downtime, providing huge savings when in a production situation. Few companies manufacturing OEM equipment have this positive attitude and concern toward their customers’ needs.

This approach bears out from the initial design of their systems.

“Our first approach is to incorporate high-end, reliable components into the design,” says John Palmer, president of Autometrix. “Every step of the way, our primary concern is to consider our customer and his or her specific requirements for ease of use and ease of maintenance.”

For example, in the first design of the company’s AutoCut 7000, the company included the highest-grade components available at the time. The high-speed system incorporates three-phase stepping motors/drives for precision and minimal backlash in the motion system, a dual E-chain configuration for smooth operation and accuracy, a front-mounted electronics cabinet for easy access, and a touchpad user interface that provides common terminology. The electronics, including the motors and drives offer thermal protection. Optional heavy-duty motors are available upon request.

The company’s cutting systems sport carbon fiber beam technology, direct drive rack and pinion, an optimized speed control for smooth motion, and highly integrated hardware and software electronics to minimize wear and maintenance requirements. Blades for the cutting tools include rolling blades, carbide-rolling blades, tangential blades (drag knife), graphics blades, and flat blades. A notch tool, punch tool, and air drill are also available – if needed by the user – as are pen, pencil and dot marker (contactless) marking tools.

The company manufactured its AutoCut 7000 to provide maximum speeds to 46"/sec and maximum acceleration to 0.7g, position accuracy of 0.02", and repeatability of 0.005". Like the systems the company manufactures today, AutoCut 7000 was a modular system that could easily be self-installed in 4ft lengths up to 24ft; factory installation is recommended for above 24ft. Usable cutting widths were available to 120", while useable cutting lengths could go to 78ft. The 4-axis machine used pattern software developed in-house. The standard X- and Y-axis would follow the uploaded pattern, while the Z-axis lowered the cutting knife. The fourth axis would maintain a tangential orientation to the shape being cut.

The precision movement and positioning of the cutting blades relies heavily on the mechanical guiding system comprised of a set of rails and cam followers. In the case of the cam followers used in the AutoCut 7000 cutting system, metal cam followers could not be used because they required lubrication and in time would wear out the rail.

Palmer wanted to avoid both the potential grease contamination of the cut cloth and the costly rail replacement. Plastic cam followers were the design choice, and Intech iCamFollowers satisfied the requirements: no lubrication, precision low-rolling resistance movement, and long wear life for both the roller and rail. They also fit into Palmer’s business philosophy to provide reliable, low-maintenance cutting machines.

The AutoCut 7000 incorporates ten Intech iCamFollowers, one for each support bearing. Intech ran life calculations based on the specific application, roller size, and rail geometry to determine the roller suitability for the long-term wear life required by the Autometrix design. The primary benefit of the iCamFollowers that were used in that machine was their cost effectiveness compared to other cam followers on the market.

“We provide replacement parts for our machines,” Palmer states, “and we seldom have to buy the cam followers. The components just work really well. They are super high quality. Plus, Intech provides strong engineering support for their products, and have done so from the start.”

Another feature that helps to make the iCamFollower stand out above the rest is the advantage of having a component that reduces overall noise and vibration, which helps to reduce user stress levels while operating in production situations. The Intech iCamFollowers can be used under a wide variety of environmental conditions, which include temperature ranges from -40°F to well over 160°F, as well as in highly corrosive environments. The Power-Core tire material does not become brittle in those very low temperatures.

The Power-Core material is specially formulated to be self-lubricating and to resist getting flats due to repeated use. It retains its elasticity over its complete temperature range. Essentially, the cam followers in the AutoCut 7000 cutting system have outlasted most other components in the system over the years. Even as Autometrix Precision Cutting Systems provides replacement parts for the AutoCut Cutting System, the Power-Core, iCamFollowers seldom break down.


Intech Corp.
Closter, NJ
intechpower.com


Autometrix Precision
Cutting Systems Inc.
Grass Valley, CA
autometrix.com