Sweden-based Piab introduces a new addition to its range of dual durometer DURAFLEX® suction cups that promises to speed up robots and improve productivity. Designed with a single bellows the new DURAFLEX® cup (10-110 mm) stays more stable when in motion, offering users the opportunity to run their robots or production lines at higher speeds, whilst maintaining a very high level of accuracy and precision.
DURAFLEX® suction cups combine firm bellows with soft, flexible lips made from a specially developed material that features the elasticity of rubber and wear resistance of polyurethane, making them particularly suitable for uneven and porous surfaces. The material's durability and elastic memory increase the longevity of cups, hence providing a higher return on investment (ROI). The material is mark-free and contains no Paint Wetting Impairment Substances (PWIS).
The single bellows version has a lower building height than the multi-bellows cups, making it easier to fit into space-restricted areas, such as robot arms picking from moulds. Additionally, the single bellows provides a better lifting force, so each cup is able to lift heavier loads. This means that fewer cups can be deployed for a specific task, reducing the initial investment.
Their stable, yet flexible function enables the single bellows cups to meet the specific demands of a variety of industries, where they will improve productivity and reduce downtime. Not only do they reduce the risk of objects being dropped, but they also help reduce investment and energy costs as their excellent sealing properties result in less leakage, allowing the use of smaller vacuum pumps.
Ideally suited for the high-speed unloading of parts with textured surfaces, such as moulded plastic parts for car interiors, the single bellows cups can help plastics manufacturers to shorten the cycle time for injection moulding. The improved stability also offers more precise placement of parts when the cups are used in holding fixtures. This improves the quality of the finished products, and will also result in fewer parts being scrapped, which in turn will improve productivity and reduce costs.
