Linear Feed Drives

Overview

The Novo Precision line of feed drives addresses the needs of a number of applications where control and feeding of linear materials like strip, wire and tubing is critical. These wire feed machines can be integrated with most fine wire and strip processing operations. For more information on our wire feed and strip feed products check out our product information below or fill out a request for quote with any questions.

Request a Quote ›

Product Information
Product Videos
Specifications

Three Options, Many Applications

Novo Precision offers three types of feed drives—tractor style, heavy duty (HD) roll style, and light duty (LD) precision style. Together with a number of control and software package options, these feed drives give us the ability to resolve many application necessities with just the right combination of components.

Novo offers these packages to end users who have the internal resources and ability to combine standard hardware items to build a machine or enhance an existing production line. They are also available to system integrators who may be fabricating a special system but do not have the level of expertise to build components to accurately move and control linear materials.

Feed Drive Styles

Tractor Style—Precision Catapuller

Also called a dual-belt feed drive, this is an ideal device to feed and control pliable or brittle linear materials such as plastic tubing, thin strip, thin-walled metal tubing, ceramic and glass. Feed speeds are variable with length repeatability usually +/- 0.015” (0.37 mm). Applications include feeding narrow strip through annealing ovens, stamping stations, and wire straightening and cut to length lines.

The Novo Precision Dual Belt Tractor Feed/Precision Catapuller can be integrated with most fine wire and strip processing operations, and offers features and benefits that make it an excellent choice for pull-feeding applications.

The material is guided between two pressure pads, one above and one below the cog belts. Pressure on the belts is applied through an adjustable jack screw or pneumatic cylinder. The cog belts are molded from a plastic material soft enough to flow around the wire diameter or narrow strip, but not so hard as to damage or distort it. The force is spread out over a large surface area so it has only minimal effect on the material being pulled, yet provides ample grip. The need to grind feed roll tooling and guides for each specific wire diameter and strip thickness is eliminated due to the nature of the belt material. Depending upon the specific application, constant speed, variable speed, stepper or servo motor and controllers can be utilized to drive the feeder.

Novo Precision offers two standard control packages that can be utilized to exercise the unit to perform controlled wire or strip feeding or with the incorporation of a Novo cutter head, wire straightener, and wire/strip payoff can function as a turnkey cut to length system.

Light Duty (LD) Precision Style

The four-wheel LD Precision Style Feed Unit is a precise, high-speed unit using two synchronized servo motors and a pair of feed rolls, used for materials up to .100” in diameter (2.5 mm), with speeds up to 300 fpm (100 MPM) and length repeatability to +/- .003” (0.075 mm).

This feed drive was developed for those very precise medical and electronic component and sub-assembly applications where the materials can be very thin or small in diameter. Applications with wire that is under .025" (0.62 mm) in diameter are easily accommodated with this style drive. Novo Precision has many wire and strip processing devices that typically work with materials .004" in diameter/thickness and smaller.

The LD Precision Style Feed Unit can be integrated with most fine wire and strip processing operations, and offers features and benefits that make it an excellent choice for applications that require a high degree of accuracy and repeatability. The material is guided between two pairs of synchronously geared feed rolls, with adjustable gripping pressure applied through pneumatic cylinders.

The feed rolls are ground to suit the specific material cross section, and can accept up to three individual wire grooves. The Four Roll Feed Box is well-suited for high-speed feed applications, and when equipped with the appropriate drive and controls, is an excellent choice for demanding multi-directional feed and speed requirements.

When servo-drive configured, dual axis are employed to insure accuracy and repeatability. Depending upon the specific application, constant speed, variable speed, stepper or servo motors and controllers can be utilized to drive the feeder. A single drive axis configuration is also available but will not match the product specifications listed on the Specifications page for this product.

Novo Precision offers two standard control packages that can be utilized to exercise the unit to perform controlled wire or strip feeding or with the incorporation of a TAK cutter head, wire straightener, and wire/strip payoff can function as a turnkey cut to length system.

Heavy Duty (HD) Roll Style

Available in two, four, and six feed roll configurations, this style is good for larger and stiffer materials up to 0.375” (9.4 mm) in size. Feed speeds are variable with length repeatability usually in the +/- 0.020” (0.5 mm) range. Applications include feeding wire rack assembly stations, rod bending or forming stations, and wire straightening and cut to length systems.

To prevent distortion or damage to fine wire or strip, material is gripped between two opposing belts and pulled using servo, stepper or constand speed motor.