Belden Universal implemented new design upgrades to its universal joints for Delta pick-and-place robots. The redesign project was necessitated by industry demand from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end users for space-saving components supporting heavier payloads, it says. The stainless-steel component is based on the company’s hybrid design, which combines the higher torque capacity of a pin and block joint with the needle bearing’s ability to continuously operate at high speeds with low friction, according to the company. It mitigates corrosion issues, contamination, burnout and joint seizure, it adds. The redesign project concentrated on the joint’s center section. It utilizes stronger, precision needle-roller bearings with larger outside diameters, making it capable of supporting applications with larger payloads and higher torque requirements, the company says. Torsional backlash is minimized according to product specifications. Modifications to the yoke’s ear profile now results in a higher, 55-degree angle, further supporting precise positioning and orientation of the robotic arms, the company says. With an overall length of just 48mm, the new universal joint delivers a compact, space-saving design.

Belden Universal
4100 Madison St.
Hillside, Ill. 60162
708/344-4600
beldenuniversal.com