Maintenance-free and lubrication-free testing machine

Profile

• What was needed: Linear bearings from the drylin modular system: drylin T linear rail guides, drylin SD lead screw drives
• Requirements: The equipment had to achieve a compression of the implants of 20%, whereby the linear guide had to be maintenance-free and without lubrication in the long term.
• Industry: medical equipment
• Success for the customer: Today, drylin linear technology enables highly robust, clean, lubrication-free, efficient and simple movements in all system parts that require movement. Their low coefficient of friction increases the service life of the devices and minimises maintenance costs.

Problem

This testing machine from the LAMEF/UFGRS research institute is used in the field of biomedical engineering and carries out fatigue tests on breast implants. The device is used to qualify the implants for further use in accordance with the ISO 14607:2013 standard. The test device can test up to four implants at the same time in clean and automated operation.
For this purpose, the equipment should have moving parts to allow compression of the implants to 20% of their original height and mechanical bending immediately after compression of the implants (to simulate a walking movement of a person with implants). The guide had to be maintenance-free and lubrication-free in the long term, as this is essential for health laboratory equipment.

Solution

In the machine design, linear bearing systems from the drylin modular product system were used, which allow highly robust, clean, lubrication-free, efficient and simple movements in all system parts that require movement. Their low coefficient of friction increases the service life of the devices and minimises maintenance requirements:
The torque transmission from the stepper motor to the compression system of the implants was realised with drylin SD lead screw drives (screw and nut). Another set of drylin SD lead screw drives was used in the same equipment for torque transmission from the gearbox to the mechanical bending system, which enables testing in the vertical direction. Two sets of drylin T profile rail guides with a linear guide and two carriages were used to guide the bending system horizontally. To guide the movable stem, in which the plates compressing the implants are fixed, a set of drylin T profile rail guides with a linear guide and four carriages were used to enable cyclical and abrupt movement over the implants in accordance with the standard.