The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Financial
    • Investments
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Earnings
  • Resources
    • Careers
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50 Winners 2022
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
    • Leave a voicemail

FIPA’s lightweight EOAT enhances the performance of advanced robotic automation systems

By robottf | July 28, 2016

FIPA Inc., recently created a custom EOAT that complements and enhances the performance of an advanced robotic automation system. Designed for FANUC America Corporation, a leading global supplier of innovative robotics, CNC systems, and other factory automation solutions for industries spanning automotive and metal fabrication to food and pharmaceuticals, FIPA’s extremely lightweight, 15-pound EOAT solution extends the range of parts that their robots can handle, and helps maximize efficiency. unnamed

Built in FIPA’s American facilities, and installed in the testing and demonstration laboratory at FANUC headquarters in Rochester Hills, Michigan, this latest custom EOAT solution features four flat vacuum cups especially designed for the dynamic handling of oily metal sheets, a heavy-duty ejector for the highest possible process reliability, a carbon fiber frame that provides a superior strength-to-weight ratio, and partially black anodized aluminum components for improved wear-resistance and ease of maintenance.

“At only 15 pounds, the EOAT that FIPA developed for us allows us to maximize the utilization of our robot’s payload capacity,” said Timothy Holcomb, senior segment engineer at FANUC America Corporation. “It also allows our robot to carry more value-added content, and, with a few easy adjustments, allows it to handle a much wider range of parts than it could before, including full-size car doors. Additionally, the rigid design of the EOAT ensures that any part it handles experiences very little to no deflection or stress.”

“The EOAT that we developed for FANUC was the product of a successful collaboration between our American and German engineering and assembly teams, and we are extremely pleased that our custom design provided FANUC with an efficient, effective, extremely reliable, and competitively priced solution that complements their advanced robotic automation system and satisfies all of their process requirements,” said Rainer Mehrer, president of FIPA.

The SM-F Series flat vacuum cups employed in the FANUC EOAT enable the process-secure and slip-free handling of oily metal sheets in a variety of automotive, metal processing, and mechanical and plant engineering applications, and are especially well suited for use in auto body and vehicle construction. Featuring a robust design that combines large area, multi-part, anti-slip cleats with large anti-slip supporting ribs, SM-F Series vacuum cups provide an extremely high degree of slip resistance, effectively absorb the high lateral forces that result from maneuvers like tipping metal sheets, and prevent the deep-drawing or deformation of thin metal sheets, which is critical in applications like auto body manufacturing. Made of silicone-free NBR materials with a hardness of 60° Shore A, the flat, round vacuum cups feature a soft, flexible sealing lip that delivers a perfect seal on both flat and slightly curved products to minimize leaking, and a vulcanized aluminum connection thread (available in several different options) that guarantees a tight fit, even in highly dynamic gripping cycles.

The heavy-duty ejector employed in the FANUC EOAT (item number 65.120) delivers high-reliability vacuum generation in harsh environments — including the automotive manufacturing, building material, timber, and packaging industries — and is ideal for use in applications that handle light- to medium-weight workpieces. FIPA’s heavy-duty ejectors accurately compensate for compressed air fluctuations between 3 bar (43.5psi) and 6 bar (87psi) to provide the greatest possible process reliability, and feature a compact and robust rectangular aluminum housing that enables the space-saving parallel block assembly of multiple ejectors in both centralized and decentralized vacuum systems. FIPA’s heavy-duty ejectors are also available with auxiliary inputs for blow-off, which enable rapid product release for extremely short depositing times; auxiliary inputs for connecting a vacuum switch, which enable process monitoring; and silencers for noise-optimized operations. The series is available in units weighing between 0.1lb (48g) and 0.5lb (225g), and with suction power spanning 30Nl/min to 130Nl/min.

FIPA
www.fipa.com

About The Author

robottf

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles Read More >

Children with autism could benefit from USC assistive robot
Children with autism could benefit from USC assistive robot
DENSO awards Battle Creek student scholarships
DENSO Foundation awards nearly $1 million in grants
VBOTS announces new certified material developer program

2021 Robotics Handbook

The Robot Report Listing Database

Latest Robotics News

Robot Report Podcast

Anders Beck introduces the UR20; California bans autonomous tractors
See More >

Sponsored Content

  • Magnetic encoders support the stabilization control of a self-balancing two-wheeled robotic vehicle
  • How to best choose your AGV’s Wheel Drive provider
  • Meet Trey, the autonomous trailer (un)loading forklift
  • Kinova Robotics launches Link 6, the first Canadian industrial collaborative robot
  • Torque sensors help make human/robot collaborations safer for workers

RBR50 Innovation Awards

Leave us a voicemail

The Robot Report
  • Mobile Robot Guide
  • Collaborative Robotics Trends
  • Field Robotics Forum
  • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
  • RoboBusiness Event
  • Robotics Business Review
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About The Robot Report
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Financial
    • Investments
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Earnings
  • Resources
    • Careers
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50 Winners 2022
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
    • Leave a voicemail