Gripper for enclosed product

[Alagesan]

Dear sir

I require a gripper for robotic handling of alumina ceramic component.  Enclosed is the component.

If any one have idea or possible to develop one, please revert back

Regards

Alagesan s

[Fabian Munoz]

Alagesan:

To be able to help you with the development of an End Of Arm Tooling (EOAT) we need more information. For what I see on your drawing I would use vacuum for pick up and not grippers.



What's your cycle time ?
Are you doing one part at the time ?
Where do you pick it up from ?
Where do you place it on ?

[tony gast]

Yes, I too would go with a vacuum device.....We have looked into a vacuum "sponge" like device that may be suitable
Somar you beat me to the draw......   

[TygerDawg]

Is this part green, or cured ceramic?
If green, you should avoid touching the round features.

[tony gast]

That's true....good point....don't want to damage prior to curing

[Alagesan]

Mr.Somar, Mr.Tony Gast

the part is green ceramic

we need to handle 120 tiles per minute.

we need to pick the tiles from a conveyor and stack it on a refractory plate of size 350 x 350x 10mm.  All the tiles should be packed closely. The stack will have max 7 years.

Can you please suggest more details about stacking using robot with or without vision.

you can contact me directly to my email id alagesans@cumi.murugappa.com

[Fabian Munoz]

Alagesan:

The issue here is going to be the automated feeding system and not the robot.

You can have an EOAT to pick up many tiles at the same time, but I don't know your process and I don't have any idea on how they are fed to the robot. That's your main problem to be solve.
If you can feed them into a pockets or some kind of grid where they stay, then you can have a gripper grabbing them up from the side.

[Alagesan]

Mr.Somar
Thanks for your comments.

All the tiles produced in the machine would be pushed to the conveyor.  The tiles will be coming in three rows. But all the three rows will not be aligned perfectly.  At present we use vision system to find the center position of the tiles. But by this method we are able to pick only 25 tiles per min whereas our production rate is 120 tiles per min

The tiles will move on the conveyor & are in irregular fashion.  Can you please suggest sutiable method to achieve our production.

We are ready to work with suppliers who can provide solution.  If more details are required pls revert back. 

[Fabian Munoz]

Hello Alagesan:

I don't believe taking pictures (unless you put many cameras and robots) will satisfy your cycle time or buy one of the spider robots to do the job, and even that, I don't know if it's enough
Based on your description I believe you need a mechanical designer more than a robot programmer. Somebody that specializes in feeding system. I'm in Canada so I will not be able more than I am helping you now

They might be able to design a mechanism "push and align" the parts blowing (gently) them off, or divert them using gates and then line them up for pick up.

[spaceacealpha]

Wow thats a small component at under an inch square each.  IMO You don't need a robot to handle that, you need a Juki or a Zevatech pick and place center modified for your product.  The robot simply can't handle them that fast and still be delicate on your green product.  A Juki is a xyz high speed gantry designed for IC chip applications.  It has vision that will pick up angle and height and little suction pads to pick.  The last one I messed with could pick 6 nearly at once and move so fast you blink and you miss it.  That can handle your material handling needs.

[SkyeFire]

Since this is the ABB forum  I'll point out that the ABB Flexpicker, combined with a high-speed vision system, could probably do the task.  Or, it could be used upstream of a larger robot to arrange the tiles properly so that the larger robot could reliably pick up X numer of tiles at once.

See here:<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/vyEvkHXFg_Y&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/vyEvkHXFg_Y&rel=0</a>

[MotorCitySTI]

The FlexPicker could handle your through-put requirements but I do not know about the delicate part. That would require a decent EOAT; payload then would become a concern if the tool is too large.

With max speeds around 10Kmm/sec the FlexPicker can get a job done fast. With line-tracking capabiltes and stationary work zone capaiblites. I think it would fit your robot requirements. Now you need a solid mechanical soltuion prior to considering which robot/automation fits your budget.