Smart clamping devices and gripping systems for the metal cutting industry

By Niraj M Wanikar, Chief Editor, CNCTimes.com, 2019-07-30 11:16:00

EMO 2019: "“Smart loading, smart machining, smart interconnecting – these three key topics are going to shape the industrial manufacturing world in the upcoming five years,“ underlines Henrik A. Schunk ahead of EMO 2019. “The core objective is an intelligent simplification of industrial production.“ Up to now, process stability and efficiency of individual operations dominated, modern applications will offer a higher degree of flexibility in the process chain, and will provide detailed process data. 

“Our clamping devices and gripping systems will be able to control the production processes in detail and in real time, and will autonomously perform necessary reactions,“ said the Chief Executive Officer. Best example: The sensory precision toolholder iTENDO, will be available from fall 2019 for a pilot application. It allows a gapless condition monitoring and documentation of the process stability, unmanned limit value monitoring, tool break detection, as well as a real-time control of speed and feed rate. If the cut gets instable, the integrated intelligence directly interacts in real time and without the intervention of the operator: Depending on the situation, the process will be stopped, reduced to defined basic parameters, or adapted until the cuts are within a stable range again. Digital twins of the toolholder series TENDO, TRIBOS, and SINO according to DIN 4000 also ensure a consistency of the data within the CAD/CAM process chain. Therefore, they are offering ideal preconditions for simulation, collision issues, as well as the shop floor management. 

With a focus on automated machine loading

For the first time, SCHUNK presents a sensory quick-change pallet module in the field of VERO-S quick-change pallet technology that allows permanent monitoring of the pull-down force, the clamping slide position, workpiece or pallet presence. Moreover, new VERO-S special components will be presented for the aviation industry, three-dimensional printing, and for the workpiece direct clamping. Besides the following highlights, SCHUNK will showcase sophisticated concepts with an emphasis on automated machine loading. Lean automated solutions, simple to implement up to cost-attractive ones, applications with lightweight robots to convenient palletizing solutions for flexible small-batch production up to ergonomic, collaborative solutions with the long-stroke gripper Co-act EGL-C in direct interaction with humans for form-fit handling of workpieces weighing up to 8 kg. 

SCHUNK at EMO 2019: Hall 3, Booth D30 

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