Flexibly Gripping in a Machine Tool

30 September 2014

Flexibly Gripping in a Machine Tool

With the Lean Automation Program from SCHUNK, the competence leader in clamping technology and gripping systems, machine tools can be automated quickly, easily, and cost-effectively. Extending this program, SCHUNK has now developed its new GSW-B-AGE compensation unit.

The principle of the lean automation program is simple. The intention is to use a shank interface to enable handling and cleaning modules to be clamped in toolholders, deposited in a tool rack and upon request they are exchanged in the machine spindle. In order to prevent the machine spindle force build-up from becoming too high when the machine tool is self-loading, SCHUNK has developed the GSW-B-AGE compensation unit.

The GSW-B-AGE unit compensates for tolerances and inaccuracies in all six degrees of freedom. This simplifies automated joining processes where the workpieces are to be fixed over bolts or pins. Moreover, the workpieces are pressed with a compensation unit against the fixed jaw of a clamping force block, until the clamping process is finished.

The compensation unit is equipped with an interface to the gripper on one side and on the other with a 20-mm shank. This can be clamped in many conventional toolholders. The SCHUNK unit can be used together with centric or parallel grippers.


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