What is the Repeatability Accuracy of A Recirculating Conveyor System?

Recirculating Conveyor System is an automated transmission solution that embeds independent carriers or workpiece trays into closed loop tracks. Its core lies in driving the vehicle through chains, synchronous belts, or linear motors to circulate in a continuous path composed of straight and curved sections, achieving the cyclic distribution or online caching of materials between multiple workstations.

Recirculating Conveyor System usually integrates a high-speed reversing mechanism and precise synchronous control to ensure efficient reciprocating cycles in a compact space. Different from reciprocating shuttle cars, its closed-loop characteristics allow the vehicle to autonomously reflux, greatly enhancing the flexibility of the production line. Under high-end configuration, combined with cone sleeve positioning or cam stop device, Recirculating Conveyor System can ensure repeated stopping accuracy during high-speed operation, and is widely applicable to scenarios that require multiple process flows such as electronic assembly, automotive parts pressing, and pharmaceutical filling.

When it comes to the repeated positioning accuracy of a Recirculating Conveyor System, there is no one size fits all number for this matter.

Just like buying a car, the standards for commuting and racing are completely different. Based on the projects I have worked on, Recirculating Conveyor System can be roughly divided into three levels, depending on how much cost you are willing to pay and how detailed the work you need to do.

Let’s talk about the economy type first, around ± 0.5mm for Carousel Conveyor System.

This level of accuracy is the most common. To put it simply, it’s about running with a belt or ordinary chain, and then coming to a stop with a hard stopper and a loud bang. The work is rough, but the leather is sturdy and durable. What is suitable for? Manual assembly line, or simply transporting things from point A to point B. Do you expect the robot to accurately grasp from here? It’s a bit hanging, my hand just shakes and deviates.

Further up, the precision type can reach ± 0.1mm when selecting a Recirculating Conveyor System.

This requires adding a servo motor and synchronous belt, or using a cam linkage mechanism for hard positioning. The vehicle runs over, slow down first, and then lock it by inserting it with a cone sleeve or pin. At this level, you can do some fine work, such as automated pressing, gluing, or visual inspection. The requirements for “high cycle time and high yield” in most factories actually fall within this range.

Finally, it is at the ceiling level with ultra-high precision, ± 0.02mm.

That’s just two strands. At this point, traditional belt chains are basically useless and rely on roller cam drive or linear motors. More importantly, the machining accuracy, thermal expansion and contraction, and even the unevenness of the ground of the track of Carousel Conveyor System itself must be taken into account. This is usually a scenario encountered only in semiconductor packaging or precision laser processing, and the price is also a geometric doubling of the first few levels.

Speaking of which, there is a detail that is easily overlooked: the precision parameter is usually the “repeated parking” precision, which means stopping without moving. If positioning is required during exercise (aerial photography), the number should be further relaxed. When selecting a Recirculating Conveyor System, don’t just focus on the most beautiful data, you need to figure out how your workpiece “stops”.

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