C
L E A R
P
A T H
U
S E R
M
A N U A L
R
E V
.
1 . 9 7
9 8
A
BOUT
E
ND
-
OF
-T
RAVEL
S
TOPS
End-of-travel stops are typically installed to prevent the moving element
of a linear axis from flying off the machine in the event of a use or con
error. There are a few common types of end stop to consider, but th
trol
e final
hoice depends on the application objectives and requirements.
H
ARD
B
LOCKS
at
ke even,
the moving element. Hard
blocks are very effective at arresting motion, but can result in mechanical
eeds.
In several modes, ClearPath must home to a hard stop to establish a home
oning can begin.
E
LASTOMERIC
H
higher lev
s protection than hard blocks.
ses.
P
NEUMATIC
(
D
Pneumatic hard stops (dashpots) offer excellent shock absorption
performance but are considerably more expensive than hard blocks.
Examples of specialized dashpots include the hydraulic cylinder in an
automobile shock absorber as well as many automatic door closers.
E
ND
S
TOPS AND
H
ARD
S
TOP
H
OMING
End stops from medium durometer rubber to steel can be used
successfully with Hard Stop Homing. When selecting end stops for a Hard
Stop Homing application consider the following:
•
Axes with low friction that are easily back driven can tolerate
“softer” rubber end stops and still achieve good homing
performance.
•
Higher friction applications and those that cannot be back
driven will generally require harder end stop material to achieve
best Hard Stop Homing performance.
•
Be prepared to tes t and experiment with different end block
materials to ensure proper homing operation with your
mechanical system.
c
This is usually a solid block of steel, aluminum, or hard plastic secured
one or both ends of travel and positioned in such a way as to ma
repeatable contact with a hard surface on
damage when struck at high sp
reference position before functional positi
(
RUBBER
)
S
TOPS
igh durometer rubber stops (hard rubber) can also be used with
applications that use HardStop Homing. This type of end stop offers a
el of shock absorption and axi
Spongy, low durometer rubber stops are not recommended in most ca
They offer little benefit over a hard end stop during an axis crash.
ASHPOTS
)
T
EKNIC
,
I
NC
.
F
AX
(585)784-7460
V
OICE
(585)784-7454
