trends in automation

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Issue 32 trends in automation
Impulse 26 – 27
Further information and animations can be
found at
processes. The power consumption of
the coolers that we use is 80 W in full-
load operation. When the required
temperature of –180 °C is reached,
however, power consumption can be
reduced.
trends in automation: What has
been your most surprising moment
in the project so far?
Krichel: I always enjoy touching a
levitating magnetic puck and feeling the forces that hold it in
place. That’s why I try to bring customers directly into contact
with our systems, although you do have to be careful when
handling the magnets – the forces are immense. You have to
experience it for yourself to truly appreciate it.
Schauz: If you were to tell an engineer that he can
only work with electric currents and cannot use
electric voltage or resistance, his initial reaction
would be one of shock. Superconductors operate in
a very demanding physical range, which differs
enormously from the real world that we live in. We
suddenly find ourselves in an entirely unfamiliar
branch of physics, and the approaches that we are
adopting in product development are extremely
exciting.
trends in automation:
So what happens next?
Krichel: We have countless ideas that
we could spend years working on in
our development laboratory. Our
challenge is to take the most promising
ideas and to develop them into the
automation products of tomorrow. That
is why we are asking customers who
are interested to contact us. We look
forward to receiving their suggestions
and the opportunity to exchange ideas.
In the SupraShaker (see picture), a plate levitates above a cryostat containing superconductors. An electric motor with
eccentric cam converts this into a shaking motion via a magnetic coupling. In addition, by transferring a magnetic field it can
be tilted in any direction. The gap between the plate and the automation system ensures that the tool and the machine are
mechanically separated, and prevents vibrations from being transmitted to the entire system. More information about the
individual concepts can be found at
At Hannover Messe 2017, Festo presented three exciting new
concepts for using superconductor technology in industrial
applications. In these concepts, superconductivity supports the
highly dynamic operation of a levitating slide as well as a
levitating vibration system with tilting option. They also show
how superconductor technology can be easily combined with
other transport systems. All of the exhibits draw on the unique
properties of superconductors, which allow a levitating motion
that combines low energy consumption and high efficiency.
SupraShaker, SupraLoop, SupraDrive
SupraShaker: one of three new future concepts