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In Focus - Archivo Enero 2012
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When investing in gripping systems, it is worthwhile to insist on comprehensive customer service.
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09.01.2012 -
Gripping systems in handling and assembly are often in operation around the clock, seven days a week. Many components have to withstand external influences such as chips, dust, aggressive media or heat. In addition, tight margins and deadlines due to just-in-time production often result in enormous scheduling and planning pressure, usually starting well before the initial commissioning. In view of these challenges, many purchasing decisions are increasingly made based not only on the quality and performance of the modules, but also on the range of services offered. Services increase planning reliability, facilitate commissioning and ensure maximum cost effectiveness during operation.
Many design engineers and purchasing agents long for the times in which grippers, rotary actuators or linear units could be selected based on a small amount of technical data. With the increasing networking of production and assembly processes however, the complexity, range of variants, and therefore the requirements for the planning and implementation process have also increased. Modern services offered by manufacturers can be a valuable aid in this connection. They increase planning security in terms of quality, time, and costs, they shorten the planning phase and enable more effective implementation and therefore a faster start of production.
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FEM analyses
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Feasibility studies clarify early on to what extent customer requirements can be implemented and which potentials for optimization exist.
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Reduced planning time - high planning security
The spectrum of useful service tools for the planning phase is large and isn’t limited to the mere provision of an order hotline. It ranges from CAD data download to online configuration programs that facilitate module design, all the way to real test deliveries for examining and even testing modules. Some manufacturers go even further by offering services such as feasibility studies in the form of technical designs, structural tests, FEM analyses, and 3D conceptual designs. Meanwhile, even test set-ups of entire applications are offered by manufacturers as an external service. This can be especially useful if the user's current production process can’t be disturbed and the process reliability of the final solution has to be ensured from the very first day.
Another service is customizing, in which standard components and assemblies are adapted by the manufacturer to individual customer requirements. This can be in the form of mechanical adaptations, such as the development and production of individual gripping fingers and other workpiece-contacting components, as well as software adaptations, such as the implementation of product-specific parameter sets. Diverse services for the development process are also offered: technical cost effectiveness analyses, for example, or the manufacture of prototypes or even the complete contract-related development services.
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Plug & Work: When gripping systems are assembled at the manufacturer's facilities, commissioning times at the user's location is minimized.
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The development of individual gripping fingers from laser-formed polyamide is also an effective part of customizing.
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Commissioning by means of Plug & Work
A second major area consists of services in the implementation phase. The goal of such services is generally to implement projects on schedule and time-efficiently. Both of these factors affect the cost effectiveness, especially if higher level systems are affected by the commissioning. A typical task of service technicians has always been on-site support during commissioning. This generally involves cable and hose connections, parameterization of drive controllers, optimization of electric drives and the training of employees in operation of the system. A further approach of modern service concepts is especially interesting for complex components and solutions. The majority of the commissioning work is transferred to the manufacturer or the system integrator, where the entire application is assembled both mechanically and electrically and then tested for proper functioning and for leaks. This also includes the basic parameterization and the integration of application-specific parameter sets. Such Plug & Work concepts make it possible to minimize commissioning times at the user's location, while ensuring an exact date for the start of production. This approach also minimizes the risk of damage and malfunction-related downtimes during commissioning.
To minimize the user's administrative costs, modern services also include the area of technical documentation. This includes the creation of customer-specific documentation in the national language, as well as the translation of operating manuals or support in the creation of documentation in accordance with company standards. Manufacturers meanwhile also offer parts lists and drawings of workpiece-contacting components.
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The availability of replacement parts should be ensured even after the warranty has expired.
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Replacement parts, training and warranty services
Users should pay special attention to services during the utilization phase. There are significant differences here, which can have serious economic consequences. It is worthwhile, for example, that support services in the form of replacement parts, repairs and maintenance be offered for the entire life cycle of a system, and not just for the warranty period. To reduce downtimes in case of damage, high delivery readiness, pickup and delivery services, as well as express deliveries are important factors to consider.
SCHUNK, the competence leader for clamping technology and gripping systems, is considered a pioneer in automation services. The innovative family-owned company has continuously expanded its service program for many years already. Today this program encompasses all areas of the life cycle of a system: initial consultation, planning, commissioning work and maintenance. The range of services also includes the SCHUNK long life warranty, a unique 30-year functional warranty for multi-tooth guided gripping modules.
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12.2012
New application possibilities for square pole technology
The electro-permanent square pole technology is a part of the magnetic clamping technology, and represents an ideal clamping solution for machining centers. It offers numerous advantages: Workpieces are easily accessible, and can be machined in one set-up from five different sides. It is no longer necessary to spend time on the fine adjustment of clamping elements. Multiple clamping operations of workpieces during the machining process are no longer necessary as well. In addition to milling applications, square pole technology also covers flat grinding applications. Moreover, special display modules increase process reliability and create optimum preconditions for automated loading.
 más…
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11.2012
High-performance automation from the modular system
Those who plan high-performance assembly plants for electronics, medical technology, automotive, or consumer goods industry, know of the challenges, if individual modules and assembly groups need to be linked to an entire system. Missing mechanical joining elements, incompatible controller concepts, or insufficient planning tools influence the planning and implementation processes as well as during the process itself. The variety of combinable system programs can be an efficient alternative - provided they are well thought out in terms of performance, volume, compatibility, and configuration.
más…
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10.2012
Applying strengths in a targeted way
Stationary clamping systems have enormous hidden efficiency and quality potentials for production. Those who want to utilize them, should question, where the strengths of the individual clamping technologies are. If they are selected and combined in a targeted manner, their investment costs can be amortized very quickly.
más…
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09.2012
The underestimated collaborators
In view of sophisticated lathe chucks, clamping blocks with compact performance, and highly engineered devices, the technological possibilities of chuck jaws may seem at the first glance rather limited. In reality, however, these direct interfaces to the workpiece open up enormous potentials: Beside conventionally hard and soft top jaws, a broad range of established chuck jaws ensure that even tricky clamping tasks can be economically solved. An overview shows what is potentially possible.
más…
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08.2012
Efficient concepts for automated machine loading
In the past, automated loading and unloading was restricted to large series, today though, small batches and individual pieces are now standard. The ultimate aim is to reduce set-up involved downtimes and to have as few workers possible manning production around the clock. What is needed, is the sophisticated interaction of innovative clamping equipment and automated components which lead to utmost precision and ensures reliable processes all at the same time.
más…
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07.2012
Consistent maintenance increases precision, process reliability,
and safety of the clamping vises in the long run
Vises used for workpiece clamping in today’s production environments are exposed to extreme conditions. This significantly influences the precision of the workpiece, process stability, and safety for both operator and machine. In order to ensure optimum clamping force, users normally follow the manufacturer’s information on lubrication intervals. Moreover, many more companies are choosing preventive maintenance programs, where the clamping vise is thoroughly tested in defined cycles. This ensures longtime accuracy, minimum wear, and high process reliability.
más…
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06.2012
High performance without chatter
The times when brachial roughing was normal are over. Those who want to produce a lot of chips in a short space of time now take advantage of high-quality cutting and intelligent toolholding systems that transmit high torques and, at the same time, reliably absorb any occurring vibrations. Modern toolholders protect the cutting edges, the machine spindle, and the workpiece surface and allow you to work with high metal removal rates even when using challenging materials.
más…
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05.2012
Pneumatic or mechatronic gripping?
In many industries, the increasingly wide range of product variants, the ever-shorter cycle of innovation, and the increasing comparability among products are leading to an enormous pressure on costs. Experts believe that production automation will be one of the keys to business success in the coming years. These issues also apply to gripping systems: the precision, flexibility, speed and reliability of a gripping system has a significant impact on the profit margin which they can achieve. Although pneumatic gripping systems were long considered the state of the art, mechatronic solutions have since made significant strides. As a result, users and system planners are increasingly faced with the question of which drive concept is more advantageous to handling and assembly processes: pneumatics or mechatronics?
más…
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04.2012
Vacuum clamping technology: an ideal addition to the standard clamping devices
In comparison to clamping brackets, clamping blocks, jaw chucks, quick-change pallet systems, or magnetic clamping technology, vacuum clamping technology is mostly unknown in the metal cutting industry. Nevertheless, vacuum clamping technology can perform a valuable service here, especially when machining thin parts that are susceptible to deformation, or workpieces made of aluminum and other non-ferromagnetic materials. Particularly when they are in the form of versatile matrix plates, they are a useful and easy to handle addition to clamping devices already in use.
más…
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03.2012
Gripping Systems of the future
Mechatronic handling systems offer distinct advantages: They are very flexible, offer numerous intelligent functions, and despite higher acquisition prices, they quickly pay off. Therefore, it is no surprise that the handling issue is becoming increasingly important in the pneumatics dominating world. This particularly applies, since more and more mechatronic components can be easily operated by average users.
más…
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02.2012
Tool extensions with minimal interfering contours
Due to the success of modern 5-axis machines, tool mountings with slim interfering contours have experienced a real boom. With sufficient torque, and high run-out accuracy they allow a deep, collision-free tool path into the workpiece, and thus ensure precision machining, even in areas which are difficult to access. These slim tool extensions are economic, flexible, and can be assembled between tool and toolholder on request. They can be combined with various machine tapers.
más…
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01.2012
Up-to-date support for all gripping tasks
Gripping systems in handling and assembly are often in operation around the clock, seven days a week. Many components have to withstand external influences such as chips, dust, aggressive media or heat. In addition, tight margins and deadlines due to just-in-time production often result in enormous scheduling and planning pressure, usually starting well before the initial commissioning. In view of these challenges, many purchasing decisions are increasingly made based not only on the quality and performance of the modules, but also on the range of services offered. Services increase planning reliability, facilitate commissioning and ensure maximum cost effectiveness during operation.
más…
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In Focus - 2013
In Focus - Archivo 2012
In Focus - Archivo 2011
In Focus - Archivo 2010
In Focus - Archivo 2009
In Focus - Archivo 2008
In Focus - Archivo 2007
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