Pharmaceutical automation cuts dispensing
costs, ensures accuracy and increases thru-put, allowing pharmacies to
recover their investment, ensure quality and lower costs to
consumers. PBC Linear’s Redi-Rail® linear guide was installed as a
replacement positioning system for Manchac Technologies’ fully
automated pharmaceutical robot, the Dosis L60. Chosen for its precision
linear guidance, sealed bearings and oil impregnated wipers, Redi-Rail®
ensures smooth, quiet and reliable travel. This allowed the Dosis L60 to
fill, seal and label 30 day prescription cards.
Manchac Technologies provides accurate and
immediate prescription sample dispensing. Delivered in a compact
footprint (7 ft²), the Dosis L60 system sorts, counts, fills and labels
60 different oral medications for pharmaceutical use without user
intervention. Originally this was accomplished using contact trucks and
rails assembled into an XY gantry. However, the contact rails would
experience periodic binding and system failure due to misalignment and
vibration. This would cause severe downtime and skyrocketing repair
costs—particularly if the system was out in the field. Lubrication was
also periodically applied, but due to the environment and the sensitive
prescriptions being handled, the required amount of lubrications was too
messy and posed a risk of possible contamination of the prescriptions.
Finally, Manchac decided to search for a more apt linear guide product.
The Dosis L60 functions in a controlled
environment to protect the prescriptions and run correctly. Pill dust
frequently builds up inside the machine and can be corrosive to certain
materials. Therefore, Manchac required a precision linear guide system
to glide over accumulated particulate and consistently perform all
automated tasks.
PBC Linear’s Redi-Rail® linear guides were
the answer. Its reasonable price, sealed bearings, corrosion resistance
and oil impregnated wipers made it a very attractive candidate.
Redi-Rail® uses a post-processed, anodized aluminum extrusion with
hardened stainless steel inner raceways to assure rigidity and
precision. The rails are composed of anodized aluminum to provide light
weight without losing strength. Redi-Rail’s high accuracy pre-loaded
sliders utilize precision-ground, double-row ball bearing gothic rollers
for fast (10 m/s) operation, high system rigidity and quiet linear
motion. The sealed bearings also roll smoothly over accumulated
particulate and restrict further contamination. Additionally, oil
impregnated wipers allow for timely and clean lubrication along the
rail.
After installed, Manchac noticed immediate
improvement in the performance of the Dosis L60. Initial testing showed a
20-30% decrease in motor current required for operation. Redi-Rail also
allowed for higher travel velocities without chatter or binding. The
installation process was also simplified with Redi-Rail®, supplying high
accurate mounting without the threat of misalignment.
Learn more
about our Redi-Rail Linear Guides at:
Redi-Rail-Linear-Guide
