Imagine a situation in which a seller promises to guarantee the accuracy of a machine for, say, 12 years. At the same time, no machine with the same design from the same manufacturer has worked for 7-8 years… Funny? Is it fabulous? Something like communism in 20 years, if anyone remembers. However, for those who have been “cheated” by this “fabulous” warranty, it may not be funny in 12 years. If the machine survives to that date at all – machines with grinded (rather than manually scraped) bearing surfaces of cast iron usually don’t last that long…
For businesses or consumers, it’s essential to balance optimism and trust with due diligence. A manufacturer’s warranty is just one factor to consider among many when making a purchasing decision.
Our unique 10-year positioning accuracy guarantee for machine-tools equipped with flat (planar) linear motors is rooted in Sodick’s trusted legacy with linear machines since 1998.
Thousands of these machines have reliably operated for 15-20 years without any compromise in accuracy.
This assurance is bolstered by numerous instances of Sodick machine-tools consistently maintaining their precision over extended periods
10 year positioning accuracy guarantee
Over 60,000 Sodick machines with flat (planar) linear servo drives have been produced since 1998.
Since September 2006,
for the first time in the industry,
a 10-year warranty
on positioning accuracy
has been provided by Sodick
for all flat linear motor machine-tools
Sodick debuted this exceptional guarantee after 10 years of rigorous field testing of the first linear machine-tools.
Machines equipped with traditional ball screw drives typically begin to experience diminished accuracy after 3-5 years of operation. While certain ball-screw designs, like the preloaded single-support or cantilever ball-screws, may deteriorate in precision sooner, others might take a bit longer. However, the underlying principle remains: over time, any ball-screw will necessitate replacement to regain its initial positioning accuracy. Not only is replacing a ball-screw a challenging and costly endeavor, but it also demands the expertise of highly skilled specialists.
Yet, the replacement is merely the beginning of the process. Post-replacement, the technology usually mandates laser alignment, a procedure that must be executed on specialized equipment. This often means transporting the machine to a unique alignment stand, which, in many cases, might be the only one available in an entire country. Such logistical challenges amplify the complexities and costs associated with maintaining and repairing machines equipped with ball screw drives.
Modern industry requires increased productivity and increased processing accuracy. The machines have to work faster, in 2-3 shifts or around the clock, which creates a heavy load on the ball-screw drives, and, of course, their accelerated wear. Accelerated wear is a reduction in service intervals and even more costs for replacement of the ball-screw drive.
