- Masterpiece in the world 2021/02/02 UP
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Masterpiece in the world #33
Making measures while clamping workpieces
Contributing to labor saving and higher productivity
Thin 2-jaw Parallel Gripper Scale Specification “NPGT_S”
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Automation production lines need inspection in machining processes, from material supply to machining completion, to check that workpiece forms comply as specified. This requires places, inspectors and time to make measurements, which as a result leads to lower productivity.
Foreign substance and/or chips can adhere to gripped areas. When workpieces are not appropriately clamped, it can result in suspension of automation lines due to machining failure caused by a fall of workpiece during transfer or poor workpiece positioning in the following process.
Here is the thin 2-jaw Parallel Gripper Scale Specification “NPGT_S” of Kitagawa Corporation to tackle such a problem.
High-accuracy, high-durability achieved by the know-how on chuck production for lathes
Along with the advancement of automation at shop floor, robot hands draw attention in the industry. The NPGT_S was developed as a product equipped with a high level of repeat gripping accuracy, rigidity and durability.
The thin 2-jaw parallel gripper “NPGT_S” not only clamps and transfers workpieces, but also measures the workpiece length between hand jaws. The company succeeded in creating this innovative product by use of the know-how obtained from long years’ experience of manufacturing chucks.
Ellipse piston employed to achieve a thin structure and high gripping force
As for NPGT_S, the piston is placed on the side of the master jaw, achieving a 39% thinner structure. As a result, the gripper is capable of transferring workpieces to narrow spaces and areas with height limits.
The NPGT10S type boasts a jaw stroke (diameter) of 20.8 mm, and O.D. gripping force of 1,000N (general purpose type: 610N) because the pressure receiving area of the piston on the side of the master jaw was expanded to a maximum degree.
It can also ensure gripping force 1.6 times as powerful as other general-purpose types with an equivalent stroke and transfer heavy-weight workpieces.
Less inspection work by sorting out defective products while transferring them
The Magnescale’s high-accuracy magnetic scale and reader are built in this parallel gripper to measure the length between hand jaws and check the values.
The measurement procedure is that the scale clamps a master workpiece to determine the reference value, and measures the length between hand jaws to evaluate whether the value is within the tolerance.
The product brings following advantages.
1.Defective products can be sorted out and removed at an early stage with no machine suspension.
2.Because workpiece length can be measured while gripped by a robot hand; time, place and labor for inspection can be reduced.
3.The measurement is treated as “100% inspection,” which enables the traceability.
4.Machining failure can be prevented in advance by finding foreign particles and chips adhering to gripped areas.
5.Maintenance time can be predicted by checking jaw status changes over time through monitoring of the open/close jaw positions.
6.Multiple tasks including workpiece transfer are possible. For example, the gripper can measure the dimension of workpieces while transferring and sorting them out by size.
Customer Voice:
- “Helpful to prevent unexpected line suspension and ensure traceability.”
- “Chips that are difficult to visually find sometimes remain on machined workpieces. With the robot hand, we can carry out 100% inspection and check that no chip remains. This helps us improve defective rates.”
Providing some extra value: labor saving in workpiece transfer and inspection
The NPGT_S, capable of measuring the length of gripped area, reduces man-hours and contributes to labor saving, energy saving and reduction in tact time.
As the gripper can be attached to existing robots as well as new ones, you can save the introduction cost. The product has received favorable reviews from customers who are already using it. The NPGT_S will bring great value to your automated shop floor.
| Kitagawa Corporation 77-1 Motomachi, Fuchu City Hiroshima, Japan 726-8610 URL：https://www.kitagawa.com/ |
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