PRODUCT REVIEWS
Quality control with cobots
Creaform , a business unit of AMETEK , Inc . and a specialist in portable 3D measurement solutions and engineering services , has released its new VXscan-R software module for the VXelements 10 platform . This latest version now offers advanced compatibility with a wider range of robots , including collaborative ones , and is designed to increase quality control productivity .
The VXscan-R software is an integral part of the R-SeriesTM . It is an automated 3Dscanning solution for at-line applications , turnkey solutions or customisable layouts .
“ VXscan-R offers a reliable and accurate digital twin environment for program preparation , scan simulations and execution . Used with the MetraSCAN 3D-RTM , a robotmounted optical CMM scanner , the R-Series is designed for companies that want to find part defects earlier and ensure that all parts are measured correctly ,” Creaform told ISMR .
“ The new version of VXscan-R is now compatible with collaborative robots ( Fanuc CRX ), as well as a variety of new industrial robots , which enables it to adapt to any workflow , from large production lines to small and medium enterprises . With its lightweight and compact design , collaborative robots in the R-Series can be deployed easily and rapidly regardless of the users ’ levels of expertise or experience ,” it added .
The MetraSCAN 3D-R offers highperformance optics , blue laser technology and 360 ° target coverage for quality control tasks . The R-Series solutions are integrated in VXscan-R software and are designed to “ seamlessly integrate into any automated quality control processes .”
The collaborative robot is expected to work with and around workers . Safety features , such as automatically stopping when meeting resistance , are therefore paramount to maintaining a safe working environment .
“ By adding the collaborative robots to the R-Series offer , and by supporting more industrial robots , we can guarantee that this scanning technology ( powered by offline programming software ) is accessible to businesses of all sizes ,” explained Jérôme- Alexandre Lavoie , Product Manager , Creaform . “ Harnessing the power of automation has never been easier .”
Creaform celebrates its 20th anniversary this year . n
www . creaform3d . com / en
FIPA adds universal gripper to portfolio
FIPA has entered a strategic partnership with FORMHAND to add a new universal gripper to its portfolio . As a universally applicable gripping system , the FORMHAND replaces many product-specific solutions to make production and logistics more flexible when goods of different shapes are moved .
“ Production and in-house logistics are becoming increasingly complex and require efficient solutions to handle a wide variety of handling processes . The clever combination of FIPALIFTpro tube lifter and FORMHAND gripping pad safely picks up goods weighing up to 25kg , where conventional solutions with vacuum cups fail . These are objects without a flat surface and flexible goods , such as shrinkwrapped PET bottles or tinned food ,” said FIPA .
The universal gripper consists of a freely deformable gripping cushion filled with granulate . The cushion nestles closely to the surfaces of the goods and forms a sealed system . As soon as a vacuum is applied to it , it becomes firm and fixes the gripped object . This enables the FORMHAND to gently pick up objects with complex geometries . Ergonomic handling of goods in a wide variety of shapes can be done without changing grippers ; the only condition is that the gripping surface is completely covered by the object . This saves users the high costs of special grippers . Set-up times can also be eliminated .
The gripper pad has a large , rectangular suction surface of 300mm x 200mm and can be changed without tooling . A quickchange adapter connects the FORMHAND to the FIPALIFTpro tube lifter . FORMHAND technology is also used on classic industrial robots or cobots . Three different sizes are available . The smallest gripping module has a diameter of 80mm and lifts up to 2kg . Due to its size , it can be integrated into collaborative applications .
The universal gripping pads were developed by FORMHAND Automation GmbH in Braunschweig . FIPA has taken over exclusive distribution of the FORMHAND in combination with the FIPALIFTpro tube lifter .
“ There are virtually no limits to the areas of application . Curved metal sheets are often the greatest challenge in manual handling . The FORMHAND also masters metal sheets with strong curvatures and curves . Some users want to change the gripper quickly because typical automotive cycle rates come into play . Medium-sized companies tend to focus on flexibility . With the new FORMHAND generation , we are trying to cover a wide range of applications and meet the associated requirements ,” concluded FIPA . n
. fipa . com
64 | www . ismr . net | ISMR July / August 2022