Category Archives: Shafts – Shafting
Motion Control – Use FDA Compliant Off-the-Shelf Linear Motion Components!
Motion Control – FDA Compliant Components
To: OEMs “Tooling Up” for Urgently Needed Medical Products! Use FDA Compliant Off-the-Shelf Linear Motion Components!
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E. Longmeadow, MA — Motion Control Components – Linear Motion – In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic many companies have volunteered or been requested to produce urgently needed medical products such as: Masks, gowns, and ventilators. “Tooling Up” quickly to produce medical grade products for some companies can bring challenges. In addition to needing FDA compliant materials that will be used in the actual masks, gowns, and ventilators, the tooling used to manufacture these products may also need to meet FDA compliance standards. Depending on the product being manufactured, the tooling may need to be: Washed down using caustic chemicals, cleaned with high pressure steam, or sterilized with high Intensity Ultra Violet light or radiation.
Ordering custom FDA compliant linear motion slides and XYZ stages can result in long delays. As an alternative, many companies have linear motion slides in stock for immediate delivery, however, they may not be FDA compliant. In many cases it is the bearings that are not in compliance. LM76 manufactures several types of FDA compliant linear bearings and pillow blocks that are drop-in-replacements for existing bearings. FDA compliant bearings and pillow blocks from LM76 will not trap contaminating debris and can be thoroughly sanitized following Sanitation StandardOperating Procedures (SSOPs). SSOPs are detailed schedules and procedures specifying what to clean, how to clean, how often to clean, and the record keeping used for monitoring.
A helpful component selection guide from LM76, “Linear Bearings, 6 Simple Steps – FDA Compliance, Wash Down Compliance,” details the linear motion components available from LM76 that are FDA/UDSA/3A-Dairy compliant. Included are: Foodstream electroless nickel plated pillow blocks, PTFE lined stainless steel bearings, ceramic coated linear bearings, self-aligning corrosion resistant linear ball bearings, and Thomson® Super SmartTM corrosion resistant, self-aligning, high load linear ball bearings, and solid ETX pillow block/bearings. Shafting to compliment the type of bearing selected includes: Class L Stainless 303/304/316, 440C case hardened stainless, Rc 60 case hardened steel with an Armoloy coating and also Rc78 Class L for enhanced hardness and wear resistance. End blocks and shaft supports that have a ceramic or electroless nickel coating are also available, as well as new ETX Scraper Seals that prevents intrusion of contaminates adding another line of defense.
LM76 also designs and custom builds linear slides from Stainless Steel and other FDA wash down compliant materials.
About LM76
Founded in 1976, LM76 has been a leading designer/manufacturer of linear bearings, slides and linear motion systems. LM76 is renowned for its industry leading Minuteman PTFE Composite linear bearings. LM76 is a leading supplier of precision linear shafting: RC60, 300 Series Stainless Steel, and ceramic-coated aluminum shafting. LM76 also offers several FDA/USDA compliant linear bearings and slides for the food processing, pharmaceutical, medical, and packaging industries.
For additional information contact Mike Quinn at: LM76, 140 Industrial Dr., E. Longmeadow, MA 01028; Telephone: 413-525-4166, Fax: 413-525-3735 or E-Mail: mquinn@lm76.com or visit the website at http://www.lm76.com
See this and other Motion Control Components from LM76 featured on:
http://MotionControlBlogger.com
http://motioncontrolBuyersGuide.com
http://Catalogs-MotionControl.com
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The Engineering Edge – Special Machined Linear Shafting
Got a special machined-to-print linear shaft…call a special supplier. Oh, we have all the standard stuff too! Call me at 413-525-4166, Fax: 413-525-3735 or E-Mail: mquinn@lm76.com!
About LM76 and “The Engineering Edge”
Founded in 1976, LM76 has been a leading designer/manufacturer of linear bearings, slides and linear motion systems. LM76 is renowned for its industry leading Minuteman PTFE Composite linear bearings. LM76 is a leading supplier of precision linear shafting: RC60, 300 Series Stainless Steel, and ceramic-coated aluminum shafting. LM76 also offers several FDA/USDA compliant linear bearings and slides for the food processing, pharmaceutical, medical, and packaging industries.
When others think catalog … … LM76 thinks solution!
For additional information contact Mike Quinn at: LM76, 140 Industrial Dr., E. Longmeadow, MA 01028; Telephone: 413-525-4166, Fax: 413-525-3735 or E-Mail: mquinn@lm76.com or visit the website at http://www.lm76.com
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Application Story – FDA/Washdown System Excels with Special Linear Motion Shaft Assembly from LM76!
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E. Longmeadow, MA – — Linear Motion – Application Story – Dairy machinery manufacturers are under intense scrutiny by FDA inspectors when it comes to FDA material and caustic washdown compliance. Recently, LM76 was called by a large US dairy packaging company to review a problematic portion of their filling line. After each shift, the filling line is washed-down, has a caustic foaming agent applied to kill bacteria and then is final rinsed. The caustic foaming agent was destroying – literally eating – the aluminum shaft supports while shafting exhibited pitting and showed signs of minor corrosion. Additionally, there were areas where product got trapped and these locations were havens for bacterial growth. Because this system was in-place and our customer was the end-user, LM76 engineers had to use direct drop-in replacement com¬ponents. What to do?
First, we decided to forgo the original bearing system that used 440c stainless linear ball bearings running on 440c hardened shafting. After reviewing loads and speeds we determined that our stainless FDA Compliant, self-lubricating linear bearings would do the job. By choosing sliding friction bearings, we were able to switch the less corrosion resistant 440c with a better 316 stainless shafting while eliminating greasing of the linear ball bearings. To increase shaft hardness, corrosion resistance and decrease “Stick/Slip” of the sliding bearings, we applied an Armoloy coating. This coating raises the shaft hardness from Rb25 to Rc78. Additionally, both the 316 stainless and the coating are FDA compliant. Along with enhanced hardness, corrosion resistance and FDA compliance, this coating has an inherent lubricity that aids in lowering “Stick/Slip”. “Stick/Slip” is a condition inherent in sliding linear bear¬ings. It takes a greater force to move a sleeve bearing linear system from static position than it does to maintain dynamic motion. Thus any assistance in lowering this value is meaningful. Now that we had the correct shafting, we turned our attention to the aluminum shaft support Here we made 2 design decisions:
1. We applied a ceramic coating to the aluminum “T” support. This coating is FDA compliant, is file hard (resists scratching) and is highly corrosion resistant.
2. To enhance system flushing to remove trapped product that could produce harmful bacteria, we segmented the support system to allow for proper evacuation of all washdown solutions and debris.
At LM76, we don’t offer a standard catalog product for your special application. We study and isolate the issues, then we design a proper solution. If you have a special application that requires a special touch, call Mike Quinn at LM76 1-800-513-3163
1-800-513-3163 or E-Mail: mquinn@lm76.com
Founded in 1976, LM76 has been a leading designer/manufacturer of linear bearings, slides and linear motion systems. LM76 is renowned for its industry leading Minuteman Teflon® Composite linear bearings. LM76 is a leading supplier of precision linear shafting: RC60, 300 Series Stainless Steel, and ceramic-coated aluminum shafting. LM76 also offers several FDA/USDA compliant linear bearings and slides for the food processing, pharmaceutical, medical, and packaging industries.
For additional information on any of LM76’s tandard or custom engineered components contact Mike Quinn at: LM76, 140 Industrial Dr., E. Longmeadow, MA 01028; Telephone: 413-525-4166413-525-4166, Fax: 413-525-3735 or E-Mail: mquinn@lm76.com or visit the website at http://www.lm76.com
