Workholding and automation on show

At the recent Machine Building Exhibition, workholding and automation specialist Schunk demonstrated a number of innovative products.

At the recent Machine Building Exhibition, workholding and automation specialist Schunk demonstrated a number of innovative products.

Among the new offerings on stand C50 were the new PGB, PZN Plus, PGN Plus and PZV grippers, together with examples of Schunk Gemotec modular assembly products.

The exhibition also provided Schunk with an opportunity to showcase a comprehensive new range of linear axes following its recent acquisition of a shareholding in HSB Automation.

Devised with a centre bore in the gripper, the PGB can be used for installing a camera or for feeding or gripping over length workpieces.

This new gripper can revolutionise and simplify operations for manufacturers in a wide variety of industries.

The grippers are equipped with a centre bore and are available with four sizes from 64 to 125mm.

The centre bore has a diameter ranging from 10 to 24mm depending on the version and the stroke ranges from 4 to 10mm per jaw with a maximum gripping force from between 110 and 640N.

The major benefit of this system is the capability to use numerous optional extras and accessories from the PGN-plus and PZN-plus series.

Like the PGN-plus and PZN-plus, the PGB is compatible with the FPS and APS stroke measuring systems, the FMS force measuring system and the ABR and SBR semi finished finger blanks.

Complementing the PGB at the show was the PGN-plus and PZN-plus grippers.

Ideal for situations where long fingers and high gripping forces often stand in conflict with the requirement of having compact sizes of the gripper housing, this exciting new range offers innovative solutions to this problem.

The grippers are equipped with a precise multi-tooth guidance.

Forces and moments of the gripper are spread over several surfaces of a multiple-tooth guide, enabling longer fingers.

The base jaws are precisely assembled and adjusted into the housing (0.01mm) in order to achieve a low guide clearance and to minimise wear.

The base jaws are synchronised by a stable wedge hook mechanism, which is guided via surface contact.

The required forces are achieved by a pneumatic piston whilst the gripper offers a range from 2 to 35mm stroke per finger.

The PGN-plus two-finger parallel grippers are available in eight sizes to cover a range of gripping forces between 140N and 13kN.

Additionally, the PZN-plus three-finger centric gripper is offered in seven sizes offering gripping forces from 580N to 38.7kN.

A recent extension to this portfolio that also generated interest at the show was the new PZV four-finger concentric gripper - the latest addition to the product range.

Whereas two- and three-finger grippers cater for most industrial handling tasks, four-finger grippers are required in instances where cylindrical workpieces are magazined on one level.

Whereas three finger-grippers have at least one finger that would always collide with neighbouring components, the PZV profits in spacious circumstances with its four fingers.

The four-finger PZV is the ideal gripper module for holding coplanar and cylindrical workpieces at a high positioning accuracy.

The PZV also offers a high degree of flexibility for other applications.

The Machine Building show also gave Schunk the opportunity to demonstrate the new range of Gemotec modular assembly products.

Consisting of pneumatically and electrically operated linear units, gripper modules and swivel units, the Gemotec components stand out for their high precision and capacity to assemble together without the use of special adapters, thus minimising design engineering and manufacturing costs when producing assembly equipment for small components.

The wide and varied application range has extended from the production of electric switches to the assembly of vehicle instrument panels and solutions for the packaging industry.

With the Gemotec range, Schunk can now cater for the trend toward miniaturisation, where flexible and versatile systems become increasingly critical.

An example of this is the new CLM compact linear modules from Schunk Gemotec.

The new CLM provides all the performance specifications of the tried and tested LM modules in a shorter more compact form.

With their hardened prism-type runners and pre tensioned junction rollers, the CLM provides a total system that is free from play and can absorb high forces from all directions despite its small size.

These new mini-slides are therefore suitable for high-precision applications and for use in areas with restricted space, the shock absorbers and proximity switches are integrated within the unit profile and do not produce any interfering contours.

The height and drilling patterns are identical to those of the LM linear module series.

This enables the modules to be interchanged and combined as desired to ensure they are compatible with all Gemotec system components without restriction.

For further details on any products from the extensive Schunk range please visit our website at www.gb.schunk.com.

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