Paul Boughton
Stäubli's new MPS 630 automatic tool changing system for robot arms can handle tools up to 630kg and withstand high bending and torsional moments, significantly expanding the suitable applications. All the services required by the tool are simultaneously connected and the new electrically- or pneumatically-activated locking mechanism ensures fail-safe security.
The facility to change the tool employed on a robot arm automatically from, say, a welding gun to a rivet gun or gripper significantly increases the utilisation of each robot arm and can eliminate the need for investment in additional robots. Additional operations usually require additional robots; but with the facility to change tools quickly and automatically, the need for a second or even third robot can be eliminated, thereby significantly reducing the capital investment required, improving payback and reducing the overall cell footprint.
As the latest addition to Stäubli's established range of high-performance tool changing systems, the MPS 630 extends the capability up to the largest welding, riveting and metal clinching tools. Stäubli's tool changers now extend from 32kg right up to 630kg tool weight capability and, in many applications, have performed successfully for over 1million connection cycles.
The MPS 630 is designed to handle tools up to 630kg and the locking mechanism can accommodate the high moments (up to 5000Nm) that the latest, fast-moving, high-payload robots can place on the tool holding equipment. The connectors will withstand the pulsating pressures caused by self-piercing guns and metal-clinching tools. It is directly mountable onto the robot flange and requires little mounting space. Retention of the tool on the robot arm is ensured by a new design of locking mechanism that can be either pneumatically or electrically actuated. Both systems provide high-security; fail-safe locking; the design uses a series of locking balls to connect across a large diameter. The electric version is designed for applications where the systems installed in a robot cell need to be minimised, such as in the nuclear sector.
All the systems required by the tools are connected automatically, employing the connection guiding and clean-break technology of Stäubli multi-coupling plates; fluid lines (for compressed air, gases and liquids, for example), signal and data transfer connections such as required for actuators, sensors, bus systems or fibre optics, and energy connections (electricity and hydraulics, for example) are automatically connected to the tool and disconnected without any loss of fluid or ingress of air into the circuits. Feeds for consumables such as bolts or rivets can also be automatically connected. The modular design means that the tool changer can be configured with precisely the type of connectors required for each application.
For more information, visit www.staubli.com
The facility to change the tool employed on a robot arm automatically from, say, a welding gun to a rivet gun or gripper significantly increases the utilisation of each robot arm and can eliminate the need for investment in additional robots. Additional operations usually require additional robots; but with the facility to change tools quickly and automatically, the need for a second or even third robot can be eliminated, thereby significantly reducing the capital investment required, improving payback and reducing the overall cell footprint.
As the latest addition to Stäubli's established range of high-performance tool changing systems, the MPS 630 extends the capability up to the largest welding, riveting and metal clinching tools. Stäubli's tool changers now extend from 32kg right up to 630kg tool weight capability and, in many applications, have performed successfully for over 1million connection cycles.
The MPS 630 is designed to handle tools up to 630kg and the locking mechanism can accommodate the high moments (up to 5000Nm) that the latest, fast-moving, high-payload robots can place on the tool holding equipment. The connectors will withstand the pulsating pressures caused by self-piercing guns and metal-clinching tools. It is directly mountable onto the robot flange and requires little mounting space. Retention of the tool on the robot arm is ensured by a new design of locking mechanism that can be either pneumatically or electrically actuated. Both systems provide high-security; fail-safe locking; the design uses a series of locking balls to connect across a large diameter. The electric version is designed for applications where the systems installed in a robot cell need to be minimised, such as in the nuclear sector.
All the systems required by the tools are connected automatically, employing the connection guiding and clean-break technology of Stäubli multi-coupling plates; fluid lines (for compressed air, gases and liquids, for example), signal and data transfer connections such as required for actuators, sensors, bus systems or fibre optics, and energy connections (electricity and hydraulics, for example) are automatically connected to the tool and disconnected without any loss of fluid or ingress of air into the circuits. Feeds for consumables such as bolts or rivets can also be automatically connected. The modular design means that the tool changer can be configured with precisely the type of connectors required for each application.
For more information, visit www.staubli.com
