FMG matrix area gripper: easy to operate and flexible to use

The increasing demand for custom-made products, for example in sheet metal or nesting processing, is leading to more and more high-mix, low-volume applications. However, these pose challenges for manufacturing companies: They often have to retool and adapt processes and machines flexibly to the wide variety of workpieces. This makes manufacture complex and time-consuming.

With the FMG matrix area gripper, Schmalz has developed an innovative solution for the automated handling of flat and predominantly suction-tight workpieces. The special feature: Thanks to its modular design, the FMG can grip almost any geometry. Applications can easily expand or reduce the size of the gripper with additional modules as required. The gripper modules, each with twelve suction points, weigh less than one kilogram and can be blocked in any arrangement. For this purpose, Schmalz creates a specific flange plate according to the desired arrangement, to which the FMG modules are mounted. Optional proximity switches further increase the reliability of the processes.

The suction cups can be activated individually and selectively with compressed air. This extends the suction points ten millimetres via a spring plunger. This simultaneously opens a channel that directs the external vacuum to the workpiece. In this way, only the suction cups that are required to grip the geometry are placed on the workpiece. This prevents incorrect parts from being sucked in. When the valve is switched off, the spring return retracts the suction point and deactivates it.

Leakages at inactive suction points are eliminated. The integrated air-saving regulation ensures low energy consumption while ensuring a constant vacuum supply. The system fixes the workpiece in place thanks to the auto-hold function, even in the event of a power failure. Thanks to the standardized suction cup interface, applications can use different vacuum cups with diameters from twelve to 28 millimetres.

A higher-level machine controller or a camera sensor provides the data on gripping points to activate the suction cups according to the geometry and position of the workpieces. Alternatively, Schmalz offers a complete system including camera and software for detecting the products and calculating the gripping points. Thanks to simultaneous activation, the system can be set up for new items in less than a second.

The area gripper requires an external vacuum supply. The SCTSi compact terminal, for example, which controls the gripping system centrally and can control up to eight FMG modules via IO-Link, is ideal for this. The individual ejector discs of the terminal supply the system with the required 50 liters of suction capacity per minute for each unit. The integrated air saving function reduces compressed air consumption by up to 80 percent.