Products for Inductive Energy and Data Transmission

Special feature on Assembly and Automation from US Tech Global Magazine, April/May 2023

By Larry Robbins, President – Commercial Division, SMW Autoblok

With contactless inductive coupler systems, SMW now offers the technology to transmit energy and data, contact-free, between stationary and mov-ing components via an air gap. SMW’s new full product range includes standard couplers as well as couplers for complex customer-specific designs.

Standard couplers are axial couplers with threaded fasteners commonly used in sensor technology. With their method of fixing these are easy to install and are quickly integrated, due to their plug-and-play functionality. The built-in LED display always notifies users of the system’s status. Radial couplers for rotary applications are available with diameters of up to 11.02 in. (280 mm) and large internal diameters.

Inductive Couplers

An inductive coupler system consists of a stationary coupler and a movable mobile coupler. By using such couplers in a system, power can be supplied to sensors, actuators, or control components and at the same time, any necessary data signals can be transmitted bi-directionally in analog or digital form.

Transparent coupling of entire fieldbuses such as CAN or Profibus is also possible. Another feature is the ability to transfer up to 1,500W of power at high bandwidths for operating actuators. Inductive transmission technology is completely wear and maintenance-free and replaces traditional transmission methods using cables, contacts or slip rings. In automation applications especially, cables and contacts are subject to very high wear and tear and this can, for example, lead to machine downtime due to broken cables. Inductive coupler systems are protected to IP67 and therefore can be used in harsh, demanding environmental conditions; they are also insensitive to vibration.

SMW’s newly developed F280 inductive radial coupler transmits energy and data contact-free via an air gap of approximately 0.12 in. (3 mm) between its stationary and moving components. The inductive coupler system consists of a stationary coupler and a movable mobile coupler. The stationary coupler can, for example, be incorporated into the machine or into set up stations and the mobile coupler is incorporated on the pallet side.

Flexibility and Operational Safety

Power of up to 1,500W can be transmitted between the stationary and mobile couplers. In addition, two CAN bus channels and two digital signals can be transmitted. Because it can transmit so much power, the F280 inductive coupler enables mechatronic clamping devices to be used on machine tools. SMW also uses the couplers in its newly launched “e-motion” product line. The mechatronic clamping devices in the e-motion line include the MM electromechanical e- motion four-jaw chuck with individually driven jaws, and the RT electromechanical e-motion tombstone with drive interfaces for up to eight universally configurable clamping devices that can be individually controlled.

Inductive transmission technology is completely wear- and maintenance-free and replaces traditional transmission methods using cables, contacts or slip rings.

The F280 inductive coupler system is standardized for all e-motion products This enables all e-motion products to be rapidly changed on the machine tool. The contactless coupler system makes it possible to always monitor and adjust every clamping device during the production process. This brings an enormous increase in flexibility, quality, and operational safety.

Contact: SMW Autoblok, 285 Egidi Drive, Wheeling, IL 60090
☎ 847-215-0591 E-mail:
lrobbins@smwautoblok.com