SCHUNK showcased its intelligent gripping systems for smart manufacturing processes at the SPS IPC Drives exhibition, held in Nuremberg (Germany). Speaking at the end of the SPS IPC Drives, Ralf Steinmann, Business Unit Manager Gripping Systems at SCHUNK, said, “Gripping goes consistently mechatronic and handling processes are going digital. A new era of industrial automation has begun. In the course of the next few years completely new scenarios will be established in handling and assembly.” The decisive points here are the streamlining of design, commissioning and maintenance, flexibilisation and permanent control of all handling processes, the human/robot collaboration and service and assistance robotics. 

 

According to the motto ‘Ready for Industry 4.0’, the competence leader for gripping systems and clamping technology showcased numerous mechatronic components, assembly groups and solutions, by which the scenarios of the digital factory can already be implemented. Here SCHUNK benefits from the specific expertise of the subsidiary SCHUNK Electronic Solutions, the leading supplier of high-speed depanelling systems for the electronic industry. 

 

Up to 150 process parameters track the high-speed cells in ongoing processes, and ensure a permanent 100% control within the highly flexible processes, a detailed traceability on the level of the individual circuit boards, and a fully automatic customised process optimisation of bad parts. In fully functioning HRC applications from the field of manufacturing, assembly and electronics production, SCHUNK also presented various technology studies of the SCHUNK Co-act grippers for the direct human/robot collaboration, and touching was allowed, as the show visitor should have had the chance to experience very closely how the togetherness of human and robot will work successfully in future.

 

The greatest highlight at the SCHUNK booth beside the plug-&-work capable 24 V mechatronic modular system was the highly flexible Industry 4.0 assembly cell. In a few simple steps the new system program is changed for combining the mechatronic SCHUNK grippers, rotary and linear modules, and to commission them. The control electronics, which is integrated in every module, the control via digital I/O, and the patented auto-learn technology of the linear axes minimise the commissioning effort.

 

At the same time, the wear-reducing drives and the elimination of shock absorbers increase process stability. If the parts weight changes during the ongoing process, the axes automatically adapt their motion profile within a few strokes. “The 24 V modular system defines a new benchmark in simplification of handling systems,” emphasised Ralf Steinmann. 

 

The interest of the visitors in Nuremberg was correspondingly keen. Already at the start of the show, the SCHUNK ELP linear axis, is a part of the modular system, and was nominated for the Automation Award 2016. It is currently the easiest linear axis on the market to adjust. There is certainly still room at the top. 

 

The 24 V modular system will be enlarged in 2017 by further modules, sizes, functionalities and communication interfaces, and SCHUNK is intensively working in cooperation with SIEMENS PLM Software to go completely digital with the electrically con-trolled gripping system components. Steinmann said, “It is our aim that users and system integrators could map their engineering process in parallel by means of the digital twin (computer-aided realistic simulation program from SCHUNK) from the concept to the mechatronics, electrics and software up to the virtual commissioning.“ In doing so, the project processing, commissioning times, and the time for implementing identical subsequent processes will shorten considerably.