Supplier of innovative analysis systems (anonymous case)
What if a pump's pressure is so high that spindles wear out too quickly? The spindles in the analysis systems must run smoothly for at least five years.
Challenge in innovative analysis systems
A Dutch client of Eltrex Motion supplies (U)HPLC systems, which serve as front-end solutions for Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS) instruments. This technique involves separating and identifying substances under high pressure.
The pumps in UHPLC analysis systems operate at extremely high pressures (up to 1300 bar). These extreme conditions place a heavy load on the spindles, causing them to wear out rapidly and compromising the reliability and lifespan of the equipment.
Project Outcome
'The spindles must run smoothly for at least five years,' states a team manager from the Dutch manufacturer of analysis systems. 'Additionally, it is essential that the spindles enable the pump to maintain a stable flow of liquids, as any variation could lead to incorrect analysis results.' With these requirements in mind, an engineering project was initiated in collaboration with Eltrex Motion.
"To achieve a higher load capacity, we added more ball bearings, which ultimately resulted in more ball orbits." Working together with Thomson, Eltrex Motion developed a ball screw with the precise load capacity, variation, and deviation needed to tackle this challenge.
In addition to supplying the spindles, Eltrex Motion now also provides the couplings between the spindles and the UHPLC pump drives.
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Collaboration with the Supplier
To ensure high precision and flawless performance, Eltrex Motion partnered with Thomson, the manufacturer of the spindles. 'Standard spindles are not designed to withstand such extreme pressures. Spindles with two or three orbits wear out too quickly.' To find the right solution, the Eltrex Motion team travelled to Thomson with a custom measurement setup. 'This allowed Thomson to immediately identify which spindle components were suitable for our client’s application and which were not. Now, our client can always rely on receiving a spindle with the correct variation and deviation.'
Eltrex Motion: A Growing Partnership
'Eltrex Motion is growing with us in every aspect. For the time being, we assemble the spindles ourselves together with the drives in the pump. However we are exploring whether Eltrex Motion can handle this subassembly, including the spindle, rotary bearings, and couplings, as a serial production process.'
Logistical Advantages
Further improvements have also been made within the supply chain. Spindles often take weeks to arrive, sometimes due to shipping by sea. In the past, this led to a risk of rust formation, an issue the Dutch manufacturer previously faced. "Thanks to improved packaging methods, this is no longer a problem."
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