Dusty affair

Kautenburger GmbH has been making special machinery according to customer requirements for around 15 years. A new die head for small size tiles, which takes 240 small tiles each measuring 5 x 5 cm² in one work step, is also attributed to the twelve employees currently working in the design, subassembly production and CNC chip removal departments .
This separates all the tiles whilst being transferred to a joint size of 2 mm and then deposits them in a grid. igus® linear bearings with polymer gliding elements support the suction heads (and the tiles) and help to move the individual suction heads. The current design of the die head, according to the design manager at Kautenberger, Christian Kautenberger, is completely different to its predecessors. “Similar tasks used to be done with ball linings, which failed to work after just a short time, however, due to the high amount of dust. The tiles also used to be transferred to the grid not by suction heads but plates; most of the tiles ended up not in the grid but on top of it, however, and had to be laboriously inserted by hand. The new automated die head now makes expensive manual labor superfluous. “

In the case of the die head for small size tiles, a design needed to be developed that on the one hand can accommodate 240 suckers in the tightest installation space and on the other can move each individual sucker into position. Christian Kautenberger sees the biggest challenge in the amount of dust created when cutting the ceramic: “All guide systems that can only work when lubricated, will only last for a very short time here. DryLin® products, however, are maintenance-free and manage without lubricant. The line has been working in three-shift operation for several years without a great deal of wear. As maintenance is superfluous, we can save a lot of money on servicing. ” Besides the technical properties, the cost-effectiveness of a machine element represents a decisive selection criterion when it comes to the “manus®” competition. Whilst igus® acquires important information for future research activities here, the competitor benefits from the jury's input. Kautenburger: “First of all it was interesting for us to see how outsiders judge our work. On the other hand an award means enhancing one's image, which demonstrates our willingness to be innovative during talks with customers. “