Page 52 - MACHINE TOOLS WORLD MARCH 2022 Digital Magazine

TECH INNOVATION #GRIPPING SYSTEMS

Smart Hands for every Cobot

The electrical vacuum generators ECBPi and ECBPM
were specially designed for mobile robotics.

ripping, moving, setting down – these robots,” explains Dr. Kurt Schmalz, systems and allow for continuous
all of this would be impossible Managing Director of J. Schmalz GmbH. condition monitoring. J. Schmalz GmbH
Gin automated processes without “We offer our customers tailored systems considers these characteristics –
the right gripper. That is why Schmalz, and components that are extremely communicative, flexible, intuitive in terms
the vacuum specialist, develops flexible intuitive to configure and modify.” of configuration, and available at short
systems and helps users choose and In order for systems operators to notice – during the development phase of
configure the right components: no small use their lightweight robots in a safe, its vacuum components for lightweight
feat given the fact that the diversity of economical and reliable way, the grippers robots.
variants continues to grow as batch size must meet certain requirements. Cobots One of these components is the
steadily shrinks. can weigh between 3 and 25 kilograms, electrical vacuum generator ECBPi: an
Lightweight robots with lift capacities depending on type. “In order to achieve intelligent vacuum pump that works
of up to 25 kilograms are becoming maximum lift capacity, the gripper must without compressed air and features
increasingly important. They are also be as light as possible,” explains Dr. Kurt an integrated interface for connecting
interesting for SMEs because they make it Schmalz. Round shapes and design that grippers and robots. Because the vacuum
possible to automate manufacturing and complies with ISO TS 15066 – a standard is generated without compressed air and,
logistics tasks. These kinds of robots can that regulates work between human accordingly, without the corresponding
be programmed without any technical beings and collaborative industrial robots hoses, the lightweight robot remains
knowledge and are relatively inexpensive – reduce potential sources of injury during mobile, flexible and easy to set up. The
to procure. “The right gripping system use. Moreover, it must be possible to CobotPump ECBPi provides the user
is the foundation for economical use of quickly and simply integrate the gripping with important data via IO-Link for

48 MACHINE TOOLS WORLD MARCH 2022 www.mtwmag.com