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Dynamic and precise:
the compact
handling system YXMx takes care of the
XY movement of the connectors below
the servo press
H
arwin’s connectors are high
quality, reliable and durable and
can thus be used in harsh ambi
ent conditions. They don’t only
fit the bill for customers in industry sectors
such as cost conscious consumer electron
ics, but also in the ultimate performance
seekers such as aerospace, motor sports
and the automotive industry, where ex
treme operating temperatures between
–65 °C and +150 °C as well as severe vibra
tions are the order of the day. This means
the connectors have to consistently be
made to very high standards.
High standards
The response by Harwin to these market
requirements has been to launch the Gecko
range of connectors. These advanced con
nectors have a pin pitch of only 1.25 mm
and are half the size and 75% lighter than
micro D connectors. Their robust screw
connection makes them extremely safe
and reliable and able to withstand count
less mating operations without damage.
The Gecko connector manufacturing pro
cess has been continuously refined from
an initially manual process to today’s
highly automated solution, capable of
producing hundreds of thousands of con
nectors a year with a wide range of con
nector configurations ranging from 4 to
50 pins per connector and many PCB
mounting options.
Modular concept
Harwin started developing a new produc
tion line with the aim of making the pro
duction of the Gecko series more efficient.
Both a high level of automation and a
high degree of flexibility were needed to
be able to produce differently shaped and
sized connectors on one assembly line.
“That is why we developed a modular
concept together with Festo,” explains
Paul McGuinness, Operations Director at
Harwin.
The new assembly lines at Harwin are
built around the servo press kit YJKP and
the compact handling system YXMx from
Festo. The handling system takes care of
the XY movements of the workpiece car
riers and the plastic housings assembled
in several of the system stations. The servo
press kit, which provides easy-to-configure
position- and force-controlled movement
along the Z-axis, is used for press-fitting
and bending the contact pins.
Standard parts
In all stations, the electric and pneumatic
drives are each controlled by their own
controller CECC-X together with a valve
terminal CPX/MPA. “These Festo systems
enable maximum standardisation and
modularisation, as standard parts are
used everywhere. This makes commis
sioning and maintenance easier,” explains
McGuinness. One of the assembly lines
1.2017
trends in automation
Synergies
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