Torque sensor solves MedTech friction problem01 November 2021
A dental laboratory commissioned special-purpose machinery manufacturer, Jonas & Redmann, to design and build a highly automated production cell capable of producing and testing five million mixing nozzles per year. Although the company’s 30 years mechanical engineering experience was up to the task, the short cycle time of 1.5 seconds was a problem when it came to the essential 100% final testing.
The mixing nozzles, used to produce the casting compounds used by dentists, are made of four separate parts and are assembled in the production cell and, like many MedTech products, are disposable, use once items. Final testing, a mission-critical part of the production process, had to be based on a friction coefficient test (< 0.5 Nm) on the mixing mechanism of the assembled nozzle.
Having worked successfully with Kistler on other projects, Jonas & Redmann looked to the sensor company for a solution.
The solution Kistler proposed used a combination of a type 4502A torque sensor and the maXYmos BL evaluation system to check the torque curve for each individual product. The measurement value produced by the torque sensor is used to generate an OK/NOK signal transmitted directly to the control system, so that any product with an out-of-spec torque curve is automatically rejected.
One important factor in the successful outcome was the close collaboration of Kistler and the consulting engineers who were executing the project. The two teams quickly devised a test rig to verify the solution which, at the first attempt, confirmed that the transducer produced values for frictional torque that were within the tolerances allowed by the system specifications.
Operations Engineer
Related Companies
Kistler Instruments Ltd
This material is protected by MA Business copyright
See Terms and Conditions.
One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.
For multiple copies
contact the sales team.