COVER STORY
Grip on Reality
Pneumatic Tooling in Automation Robotics By Frank Langro and Mike Guelker, Festo
A
s implementations of stationary and autonomous mobile robotics grows, the focus on innovations in end-of-arm tooling technology intensifies. End-of-arm tooling innovation falls into two broad areas. The first involves designing new and improved specialized tools for performing single-purpose tasks such as gluing or screwdriving. In the second, design engineers work toward solutions that expand flexibility in picking and placing, holding, and clamping. The greater the range of objects grasped by a gripper, the more a single robot can do and do efficiently. Pneumatic- and vacuum-powered grippers are applied in numerous industries and applications due to their small-form factor and high-force capabilities as well as the lower relative cost of pneumatics compared to servo-electrics. Pneumatics and vacuum are also ideal for adaptively gripping variable shapes and delicate, easily damaged objects. Servo-electric grippers are primarily used for precision, low-force gripping and have a narrower band of applications compared to pneumatics. In some cases, unique designs rather than force, size, and cost make pneumatics the ideal choice. In one recent customer application, a pneumatic cylinder incorporated a vacuum assist and blow-off function via a hollow through rod on the cylinder. Compressed air flowing from the through rod removed debris and protected the workpiece surface. 12
JANUARY 2022
Demand for flexible automation The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated interest in flexible automation. Automation reduces worker density, lowering the risk of airborne germ transmission. Flexible automation also helps lower dependence on a labor market in which too few skilled workers are applying for open positions and serves to counteract the rising price of labor. The development of autonomous mobile robots has moved robotics into new applications. Robots today, for example, can sanitize areas of a facility between shifts and other transition periods. The implementation of robotics for these tasks makes it possible to sanitize more often, thus protecting patients, guests, staff, and workers in hospitals, hotels, and plants. Due to the variety of tasks diverse types of grippers could be needed to accommodate different sanitizing tasks. New materials, controls, manufacturing innovations such as 3D printing, and energy management for greater sustainability are driving innovation in robotic gripping. The ideal gripping solutions are typically lightweight and handle a variety of objects. This means that most gripping solutions no longer consist solely of heavy-duty metal parts. Today, 3D-printed and molded parts are increasingly incorporated into grippers. The speed and versatility of 3D printing allows for customized gripper fingers to handle specific objects. Companies that WWW.FLUIDPOWERJOURNAL.COM • WWW.IFPS.ORG
