Nexen Group Launches UniTrax Motor-Ready Linear Axis

Nexen Group, Inc. has launched the UniTrax motor-ready linear axis, a configurable linear motion system built on the company’s industry-tested Roller Pinion System (RPS). The product is designed to reduce engineering, component selection, and installation work for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), machine builders, and system integrators. UniTrax is available in nominal 1-meter and 1.5-meter lengths, with custom lengths shorter than 1.5 meters available upon request. Customers specify the axis length and planned gearhead, allowing Nexen to configure the system for specific applications.

The development of UniTrax was driven by customer requests for an easier way to implement Nexen’s linear motion technology. An initial voice-of-customer survey identified the need for a more complete system that would reduce the component sizing, mounting design, and assembly work normally completed by customers. Nexen estimates that UniTrax can save approximately 19 hours of labor compared with sizing individual components, designing mounting features, and separately assembling and installing the components. “Customers wanted the performance of our Roller Pinion System without having to engineer and assemble every part of the axis themselves. UniTrax gives them a configurable axis that reduces integration work and helps them move more quickly toward a production-ready machine,” said Craig Pellin, vice president of sales and marketing at Nexen Group.

The UniTrax linear axis includes the RPS drive system, guide rail, and carriage plate. The customer supplies the servo motor, gearhead (if needed), and cable management system. For applications that require additional load support, the customer can also add a second guide rail and a larger carriage plate. The axis’ clamp-collar design accepts shaft diameters of up to 22 mm, accommodating gearheads through the Stober P4 size as well as gearheads with smaller shafts. Built on Nexen’s RPS, UniTrax delivers zero backlash, repeatability of ±20 micrometers, and positional accuracy up to ±80 micrometers in a fully supported top-mount configuration. It reaches speeds of up to 4 m/s and provides an average thrust capacity of 1,000 N and a static thrust capacity of 2,000 N. UniTrax can operate without lubrication at speeds of up to 1 m/s, providing an advantage in both dirty and clean environments. Unlike belt- and ball-screw-driven actuators that may face speed limitations as travel length increases, the RPS maintains high-speed capability over longer travel lengths. The axis can be used as a standalone axis or configured with a larger carriage plate. Potential applications include Cartesian robots, food-processing equipment, custom drilling and cutting systems, gantry routers, nondestructive testing and measurement systems, laser and plasma cutting, welding, woodworking, and multiheaded systems operating on a common axis. To learn more about the UniTrax motor-ready linear axis or discuss a configuration for a specific application, visit www.nexengroup.com/linear-motion-control/unitrax-motor-ready-linear-axis/ or contact Nexen Group at [email protected] or +1 651-484-5900. Nexen Group engineers and manufactures precision motion-control products for OEM machine designers, system integrators, and maintenance professionals, headquartered in Vadnais Heights, Minn. For more information, visit www.nexengroup.com.