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Gripping technology World’s first long-stroke gripper for collaborative operation is here!

Author / Editor: Ahlam Rais / Ahlam Rais

SCHUNK’s new Co-act EGL-C long-stroke gripper was recently displayed at the mammoth industrial technology show – Hannover Messe in Hannover, Germany. Boasting of handling workpieces that weight up to 2.25 kg, the gripper proves beneficial for the automotive, automotive related-supply industry and other industrial applications.

The SCHUNK Co-act EGL-C is the world’s first long-stroke gripper for collaborative applications. It can handle workpiece weights of up to 2.25 kg.
The SCHUNK Co-act EGL-C is the world’s first long-stroke gripper for collaborative applications. It can handle workpiece weights of up to 2.25 kg.
(Source: SCHUNK)

SCHUNK showcased its latest innovation – the Co-act EGL-C long-stroke gripper at Hannover Messe 2019 and has taken the concept of 'human-robot’ collaboration to the next level. Claimed to be the world’s first long-stroke gripper for collaborative operation, the solution is capable of handling workpiece weights of up to 2.25 kg and can be conveniently used across a wide range of applications. The long-stroke gripper can attain high gripping forces up to 450 N and combine them with a long stroke of 42.5 mm per finger.

Ideal for the automotive, automotive related-supply industry and other industrial applications such as mechanical engineering, the new gripper is equipped with combined force and displacement measurement. Monitoring the respective gripping force and position of the gripper fingers now becomes possible with the force measuring jaws and incremental encoders that are incorporated in the base jaws. The gripping procedure stored on the gripper is divided into several phases.

Plug & Work

‘Plug & Work’ becomes possible with the advanced gripper as matching interfaces for HRC robots such as Kuka, Yaskawa, Fanuc, Universal Robots and Nachi are also available. With the help of a commissioning assistant, programming during commissioning becomes easy. The incorporated diagnostic interface also offers access to the main process and status data during the ongoing operation. It is interesting to note that the gripper is equipped with a LED light in traffic light colours which makes it simple for the operators to understand the current condition of the module and collaborate with them.

Intelligent gripper

The smart gripper can also be controlled and adjusted via Profinet, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, Modbus/TCP or TCP/IP. With an operating voltage of 24 V DC, the gripper can be used in a decentralised manner as well as mobile owing to the complete control and power electronics installed in the housing in an efficient space-saving method. High robustness, along with a permanent, reliable operation for minimal maintenance effort can be achieved with the assistance of stable guides and a brushless servomotor.

The gripper will be available by the end of the year 2019 and by then all the components of the gripper are expected to be DGUV-certified for HRC applications. SCHUNK has time and again introduced stunning grippers for the global market and the most recent innovation is no exception. Hannover Messe, the biggest trade show for industrial technologies witnessed many more futuristic technologies which are set to transform the manufacturing industry like never before.

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