Harmonic Drive
Machining Centre Sawing Attachment
Hollow-shaft actuator
This design example shows another use for the hollow-shaft of an FHA actuator. In this case the actuator is used to rotate the sawing attachment of a woodworking machine. The previous solution featured a worm gear and the main spindle motor was attached to the output of the worm gear and the saw blade was connected directly to the main spindle motor. This solution was problematic for a number of reasons.
First, the complete machining area of the machine could not be used, because room had to be left to allow the spindle motor to be rotated. Secondly, the dynamic performance of the axis was limited because the spindle motor had to be rotated with the saw blade. The new design uses the hollow-shaft of the FHA actuator to connect the main spindle motor to the saw blade. The spindle motor is now static, mounted on a housing enclosing the FHA actuator.
The saw blade is connected to a bevel gearbox and only this must be rotated so improving the dynamic performance. Furthermore, the available working area of the machine is much increased, because the "footprint" of the new design is much smaller.
