The most customized robot end tool eoat

Customized robot end tool (eoat)

compared with self-made eoat system, customized eoat system is more perfect and has more functions. In some injection molding production with special requirements, customized eoat system helps to avoid the error of "high cost"

many injection molding companies have well met the operational requirements of picking up parts by using the manipulator end tool system (eoat) with non-standard modular components. However, in the application of some complex components, the limitations of this method appear. Generally, for components that are difficult to grasp, eoat system is required to be more perfect and have more functions. However, injection molding companies often don't gradually understand how to safely take the parts out of the mold until the first production run. Before that, they always had the wrong idea

what's more ironic is that in the past 10 years, some "successful" injection molding companies have made their own eoat systems using modular components. They are convinced that using some standard components, such as vacuum suction cups, frame connectors, quick change chucks, pneumatic connectors, fixed fixtures, grippers and control systems, they can make simple EOATS, such as vacuum suction cups, clamps and support arms, fixed aerogel gel materials, which are prone to generate dust in the process of use, fixtures, pneumatic joints, grippers, workpiece/sprue clamps, sprue cutters, special cylinders and control systems, And never tire of it

the robot in the figure is from FANUC

however, if those modular components can always meet the application requirements, then in some more complex applications, it is very likely to lead to "high cost" errors. Therefore, for injection molding manufacturers, the most important thing is that they should clearly know how to benefit their production, and this benefit must be related to the customized end tool system

when to need customized eoat

generally, when the following problems are encountered in injection molding production, customized eoat system needs to be used: the parts are difficult to demould due to large adhesion or other reasons; It is necessary to rotate the workpiece in one direction; The parts must be demoulded from a specific direction; The workpiece is relatively bulky, making it difficult to grasp; The workpiece has a class a surface, so it needs special protection to avoid damage; Involving embedded molding and cladding molding; Multi cavity molding; Involving secondary operations (such as assembly); It is not allowed to use vacuum suction cups to grab; End tools with stronger clamping force and lighter weight are required; It is required that only one eoat system can be used to grab parts of different sizes

Figure 1 no matter whether the configuration is customized components or standard components, the programmable eoat system can replace the use of multiple end tools

generally, the customized eoat system can integrate a variety of functions, which can be performed synchronously or in sequence, while the ordinary eoat system does not have these functions at all. For example, a customized eoat system takes out the formed part, and then puts a steel insert into the mold to form the next part. The manipulator and eoat system first grab the inserts from a rotating workbench, then take out the formed parts, and then move down to put the steel inserts into the mold from three different directions (not parallel to each other). In contrast, the self-made eoat tool can only put the insert into the mold along the straight direction. Because it can replace manual work to complete the insertion and removal of inserts, the customized eoat system helps shorten the production cycle. At the same time, because there is no need to manually remove the overweight or overheated parts from the mold, the additional compensation cost for workers is also saved

in addition to having more functions, customized eoat is more cost-effective than the loss caused by unexpected downtime caused by the use of ordinary eoat, and the cost incurred by manually taking out parts and completing secondary operations. In some cases, the existing standard components and customized components can be used to manufacture eoat at the same time, but in some cases, all customized components must be used. In order to ensure the safety of use, customized eoat needs to be tested before formal production. However, shapers should also be reminded that customized eoat tools often require a longer production cycle than self-made eoat with the test function of the strand deflection tensile tester

other issues to consider

shapers should also consider using a programmable eoat system to avoid controlling multiple end tools at the same time. This can be created by using standard modules or customized components according to the needs of practical applications to prevent the expansion of shortcomings. For example, if you need to pick up four separate parts at the same time, the programmable eoat will sort and reposition these parts before grabbing

in order to ensure the normal operation of eoat, sensors and wiring are another aspect worthy of attention. Generally, it is very common to use multiple sensors in customized eoat, while self-made eoat is generally not equipped with sensors. Vision, pressure and positioning sensors can determine the current operating state of the workpiece and give corresponding operation information, such as clamp closure or insertion of inserts. The sensor can also identify and detect whether the eoat system configured for the mold or template is appropriate. However, sensor replacement is also a common problem encountered in the use of customized eoat, which can be easily solved by using universal connectors

as for wiring, processors should note that customized EOATS, such as engine nacelles, ailerons and aircraft spars, are usually equipped with a logic junction box, which can provide necessary protection when replacing sensor wiring. Some existing EOATS are usually not equipped with junction boxes, but if the wiring needs to be replaced, a simple change-over switch can easily switch from PNP mode to NPN mode, and vice versa. This also means that customized eoat tools can be easily transferred from one manipulator to another. (end)