Innovative Vacuum Automation Application of electroadhesive grippers for automated handling of semi-finished composites 8th International CFK-Valley Stade Convention 25 June 2014 Aline Defranceski, J. Schmalz GmbH
Agenda J. Schmalz GmbH State of the Art Industrialization of Electroadhesive Grippers Conclusion Innovative Vacuum Automation 2
Company Facts Dynamic growth is our passion! Established 1910 by Johannes Schmalz Family owned Dr. Kurt Schmalz, Wolfgang Schmalz Market importance Worldwide leading provider of automation, handling and clamping systems based on vacuum technology Employees Around 800 worldwide, trainee quota 14 % (Germany) Creation of about 200 jobs in the past five years (worldwide) Innovation indicators About 400 patent applications and granted patents 8.5 % (of turnover) spent on research and development Subsidiaries In 15 countries all over the world Certificates DIN ISO 9001 (Quality Management) since 1994 DIN ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) since 1997 Innovative Vacuum Automation 3
J. Schmalz GmbH Products and business divisions Vacuum Components Vacuum Gripping Systems Vacuum Handling Systems Vacuum Clamping Systems Innovative Vacuum Automation 4
J. Schmalz GmbH Extract of Products Innovative Vacuum Automation 5
Automation of the RTM Process Picking parts up from cutter table Stack Handling Handling of preforms Handling of preforms Handling of cured parts Innovative Vacuum Automation 6
Schmalz Gripper Solutions - Examples Ply Handling Stack Handling Schmalz Composite Gripper Insert Preforms & Remove Cured Parts Schmalz Needle Gripper Clamping Innovative Vacuum Automation 7
Advantages of Electroadhesive Grippers energy efficiency Gripper Contact Area Energy Consumption SCG 5,7cm² ~ 100 Watt SCGe 2,5 cm² ~ 40 Watt ES 1 m² < 1Watt light weight 400 g/m² precise handling < 1 mm Cost efficiency Innovative Vacuum Automation 10
Electroadhesive Grippers Frame / Kinematics 3 1 Power Supply 2 Circuit board Innovative Vacuum Automation 11
Function of Electroadhesive Grippers HV Potential 1 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Potential 2 Innovative Vacuum Automation 12
State of the Art SRI / Grabit Inc. Daimler DE2404863 Boeing WO2012177340 Fraunhofer IPT Innovative Vacuum Automation 13
A Way to go to Industrialized Electroadhesive Grippers? ensure security determine field of handling materials realize process stability Innovative Vacuum Automation 14
Condition Monitoring / Gripper Security normal cycle breakdown final breakdown Innovative Vacuum Automation 15
Ensure Security Condition Monitoring detects damages and breakdown Grounding concept of gripper and machine environment prevents damage in case of breakdown Operator should not touch conductive materials while handling Establish high voltage power supplies witch support safety critical functions Innovative Vacuum Automation 20
Pick up Parts from Cutter Table + Full area gripper + Flexible area design + adjacent areas are controlable independently + low energy consumption even for huge area grippers - High voltage switches are expensive and bulky - To avoid many switches, customate area design is needed - Stucking ply tend to peel Outlook: combination of full area electroadhesive gripper and additional gripper components to ensure process stability Innovative Vacuum Automation 22
Draping + light weight area gripper (~ 400 g/m²) + downsized kinematics and handling devices + customized shapes + selective control allows predictable fixing and sliding of material - 2,5 dimensions, no stretching of gripping area Outlook: combination of full area electroadhesive gripper and additional gripper components to ensure process stability Innovative Vacuum Automation 23
Conclusion Condition monitoring can ensure security of machinery and operator Scope of handling materials depends on material characteristics Potential is not exploited yet Combination of common grippers and electroadhesive full contact areas discloses cost efficiency and process stability Innovative Vacuum Automation 24
Schmalz Innovationspreis Innovative Vacuum Automation 25
Innovative Vacuum Automation Aline Defranceski Pre-Development, Vacuum Components J. Schmalz GmbH Aacher Strasse 29 D-72293 Glatten Tel.: +49 (0)7443 2403-163 Aline.Defranceski@schmalz.de www.schmalz.com 8th International CFK-Valley Stade Convention 25 June 2014