In the factory of the future, manufactured products will move through the production halls quietly, cleanly, with low energy consumption, and contact-free. Alongside other magnetic field-based levitation technology, superconductor technology is particularly well suited for this purpose. That is why we have been exploring this exciting technology for several years. During this time, a multitude of concepts have been developed that demonstrate the potential of superconductors in industrial automation. Below you will find a brief overview of the technology’s wide range of applications:
SupraJunction demonstrates the contactless transport of objects across enclosed surfaces and through air locks. Two carrier plates levitate above the superconductors thanks to magnetic rails attached to their underside. They transport small glass containers around a circuit and are transferred from one superconductor element on one transport system to another on a different handling system.
During the contactless transfer from one cryostat to the other, an electromagnet attached to an electric axis pulls the carrier plate onto the next cryostat in the working direction of the magnetic rails. This system marks the first time that Festo has implemented the automated transfer from one system to another in the horizontal plane, thereby making it possible to transport objects via levitation along long process chains and across system boundaries.
The plates levitate over a shallow basin of water throughout the entire process. The carrier system and the automation technology are completely separated from one another; this protects the components against contamination and makes cleaning extremely easy – ideal for applications in the packaging industry, laboratory automation, medical technology, or the food or pharmaceutical industry.
The SupraChanger is the first application to carry rotary motion over to magnets, which levitate thanks to superconductivity, in a controlled and contactless manner. For this purpose, three different stations are mounted on a table, each demonstrating a rotary application: a centrifuge, a mixer, and a rotary indexing table.
A superconductor module with a stepper motor is mounted under the table. The table automatically rotates 120 degrees so that one of the three applications is always positioned above the module. Each station has a magnetic disc that levitates at a specific distance locked into place above the actively cooled superconductor module. As soon as a station is positioned above the module again, the disc reacts to the superconductor and begins to levitate.
The stepper motor and a magnetic coupling under the table specifically rotate the magnetic disc in the station, and with it the respective application. This means that the applications do not have to be controlled electrically or adjusted manually, making quick and easy tool changes possible.
The SupraShuttle demonstrates how levitating objects can be moved into hermetically sealed spaces and then moved around within these spaces. To achieve this, an acrylic glass dome is placed over the magnetic carrier and forms an enclosed space around it – without the need for lock gates, rails, or guide systems.
The SupraShuttle is also the first time Festo has demonstrated the movement of a levitating object in all spatial directions. A superconductor module is mounted under the table for this purpose. A magnet is levitated above the superconductor module and therefore also above the table. The carrier with the vials is mounted to this magnet.
The magnet follows the module’s every movement at the stored levitation gap. If the module is moved to the back wall by the rotary actuator, the magnet also glides seamlessly from a horizontal to a vertical position, without touching the floor or being mechanically gripped.
SupraHandling 2.0 involves a superconductor slide levitating along two magnetic rails in a contact-free yet stable manner. At the same time, the whole system can be rotated around its longitudinal axis by up to 180 degrees. This allows the slide to glide horizontally along the floor, vertically on the wall, or hanging overhead. Small plastic vials are transported on the slide unit. Their mounting system is designed for flexibility. Even if there is a change of plane, they always remain vertical with the opening facing upwards.
Besides motion in all spatial planes, SupraHandling 2.0 demonstrates how objects can be transported in an energy-saving way without friction loss. Only the cooling system for the three superconductors requires a total of 36 watts of power.
The exhibit features a hermetically sealed space made of acrylic glass in which a handling process takes place. This means the SupraPicker is not limited to horizontal operations, but can move to any corner of the space.
The superconductive gripper arm picks up six small vials outside of the space using a magnetic puck. The levitation gap between the puck and the superconductor allows the gripper arm and gripper to be separated. The puck is transported with the gripped object through a lock into the enclosed space, while the superconductor moves parallel to it outside the space. This means the handling operation in the enclosed space can be carried out without touching the walls.