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In Focus - Archivo Marzo 2012
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Mechatronic grippers have a great hidden potential.
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09.03.2012 -
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.
Who doesn’t remember the emerging discussions on digital cameras during their introduction phase in his own circle of acquaintances? Today, the concerns, reservations, and fears seem to be forgotten. Young children or technically inexperienced seniors are using the digital device quite naturally.
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Powerball Arm from SCHUNK
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The inhibition threshold is sinking
The automation experts are predicting a similar development for mechatronic gripping systems. Since that time it has been possible to reduce the inhibition threshold against the use of these gripping systems, and more and more users, plant designers, and system integrators are taking a mechatronic solution into consideration because of their numerous advantages. Mechatronic grippers are flexible in use and are very comfortably equipped. The grippers are additionally equipped with a control system, which monitors the gripper position, stroke, closing speed, acceleration, and force. Some of the mechatronic modules can be put into operation and are remote-maintained via internet or data line. Even in terms of costs a lot has happened: The rapid progress of electrically actuated servo drives ensures that mechatronic components can be offered at more attractive prices. Even though the initial investment is normally higher than of pneumatic modules, the payback period of mechatronic modules is considerably shorter now. This particularly applies for applications with a high cycle time and many gripping processes, where electrically driven grippers have to use more energy, but are more cost efficient than comparable pneumatic versions. For reasons of environmental protection, mechatronic solutions are compulsory by law in South Korea for example. In the framework of the European safety management for machine and plant designers, mechatronic components have good advantages.
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Alternative: The EGP gripper for small components
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Simple pneumatic alternatives
There are three central concepts in the market of mechatronic grippers:
- Mechatronic grippers as a pneumatic alternative
- Mechatronic grippers with intelligence
- Adaptable mechatronic grippers
The simplest version of mechatronic grippers, the so-called entry class into the world of mechatronic grippers pursues the aim of replacing pneumatic modules with mechatronic ones. Partly the grippers are based on the proven platforms of pneumatic systems, and make them interesting in two aspects: their use doesn’t require any well-established know-how. Moreover, the grippers are fully mature from the constructive and mechanical point of view, and its pneumatic version has proven many times. The modules can be digitally controlled via a sensor distributor. If the sensor system of the pneumatic gripper can be taken over 100%, the pneumatic grippers of the system can be easily replaced by mechatronic grippers. Moroever, the performance of the mechatronic compact grippers stand the comparison with pneumatic solutions. The entry model as well as gripper’s pneumatic counterpart of SCHUNK, the competence leader for clamping technology and gripping systems are equipped with a high-performance cross roller guide, which ensures a particularly high efficiency factor, high speed, and a high gripping force.
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Intelligent: The WSG 50 from SCHUNK
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Sophisticated grippers with integrated intelligence
Intelligent mechatronic grippers have a different approach. They are used for shortening manufacturing, assembly and handling processes, and they enable us to develop completely new solution strategies. In the meantime solutions are available, which can be reliably operated without making a comprehensive electronic and control knowledge. Some grippers of the professional league are equipped with Profibus DP, CAN or RS232, but also with an ethernet TCP/IP interface, and an integrated web server, which allow easy actuation via web browser and without additional software. Their characteristic feature is the integrated intelligence, by which the gripper can solve various partial tasks by itself. Therefore gripping commands can be combined with integrated gripped part detection, and a high positioning accuracy at optimized cycle times. The subordinated process controller can be considerably relieved, too. It would be ideal, if the gripper’s range of function could be adjusted with scripts. It is also useful, if the gripper is equipped with additional sensor interfaces, integrated in the base jaws. The occurring forces can be precisely detected and can be adjusted.
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Adaptable: The EGA long stroke gripper
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To grip pneumatically or mechatronically? This is the question. The following chart should help you to find the optimum gripping system:
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Adaptable gripping modules
The third column of mechatronic gripping systems are the grippers with adaptable, electric drives. Depending on the system and the desired functionality, the modules can be equipped with various servo motors. The two advantages are obvious: The gripper can be used as an additional directly interpolated axis, and can be actuated with the same command set as subordinated robots. This way any gripping position can be easily and flexible changed, without causing problems with incompatible control signals. Moreover, the features of the system’s control unit can be directly used for programming, safety, or field buses.
Since the mechatronic gripping modules offer so many options, question arise if pneumatic grippes will soon be obsolete. SCHUNK, the competence leader for clamping technology and gripping systems considers this unlikely. "Both pneumatic and electrical drives have distinct advantages depending on their use", explains Matthias Poguntke, Business Unit Manager for Product- and Portfolio Management at SCHUNK. Mechatronic modules are particularly flexible, and even though some of them have a higher initial investment, they are very attractive in terms of efficiency. Pneumatic grippers have an attractive price, are robust and can be easily commissioned and maintained. It has to be evaluated according to the purpose, environment and the individual requirements, which type of drive will have the greatest economic benefit. In this connection, SCHUNK sees itself as a competent problem solver, who efficiently bundles pneumatics and mechatronics into one company, and therefore the users can generate considerable synergies. As one of the first manufacturer, the innovative family-owned company bundles a great variety of mechatronic modules in a single modular system, and therefore offers optimum preconditions for a customs-tailored and economic solution.
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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.
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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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