Flexible span and free rotation for cobot grippers

SMW-Autoblok and SMW-electronics will showcase solutions for automating and digitizing industrial processes at this year's Automatica. The group is focusing on end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), significantly increasing its efficiency and safety with a concept combining mechatronic grippers and an inductive coupling system.

MX-U: New size for the Motiact mechatronic gripper series

One of the highlights will be the Motiact mechatronic grippers, which SMW will demonstrate in action along with its inductive coupling systems. SMW's comprehensive portfolio of mechatronic 2-finger parallel grippers was recently expanded to include the MX-U mechatronic universal long-stroke gripper. It features an extra-long stroke of 52.3 mm per jaw and a gripping force of 300 N with a low installation height. This offers a high degree of flexibility for a wide range of pick-and-place tasks and expands the spectrum of industrial cobot applications.

The MX-U leverages the strengths of the Motiact gripper: An integrated absolute position measuring system allows its jaw position to be precisely adjusted to the object to be gripped. The gripping force can also be infinitely adjusted. In the event of a power failure, the position measuring system and a motor brake ensure that both the gripping position and the gripping force are maintained 1:1. This allows the position and force variables to always be controlled appropriately, even with a wide variety of variants, leading to greater efficiency and safety in gripping processes.

Inductive coupling systems: More flexibility in EOAT motion sequences

The EOAT concept is completed with SMW's inductive coupling systems. They enable the contactless transmission of energy and signals between the rotating gripper unit and the stationary unit of the cobot. The elimination of cable connections enables the endless rotation of the mechatronic grippers in both directions, thus increasing the flexibility of the motion sequences in the EOAT. The disc-shaped systems of SMW's F series are particularly suitable for cobot applications. In addition, the inductive coupling systems are also available in cylindrical and cubic shapes, allowing them to be selected to suit the motion requirements of different applications.